Deer Creek Lake Lower Dam dam
Deer Creek Lake Lower Dam
Deer Creek Lake Lower Dam, located in Travis County, Texas, is a private earth dam with a primary purpose of 'Other'. It stands at a height of 24 feet and has a length of 400 feet, providing a storage capacity of 50 acre-feet. The dam is regulated by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) and undergoes regular inspections to ensure its safety and compliance with state regulations.
This dam, situated on a tributary of Rocky Creek, features an uncontrolled spillway with a width of 124 feet. With a moderate risk assessment rating, the dam is considered to have potential hazards, although specific details on its condition assessment are not available. The last inspection in January 2016 revealed no significant issues, and the dam has been modified in 2016 for unspecified reasons. Emergency action plans have been prepared and updated periodically, indicating a proactive approach to managing potential risks associated with the dam.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Deer Creek Lake Lower Dam presents an intriguing case study in dam safety and management in Texas. As a privately owned structure with state oversight, this dam offers insights into the regulatory framework and risk assessment processes that govern such critical infrastructure. With its location in a highly populated and environmentally sensitive area, the dam serves as a vital component in water resource management and flood control efforts, highlighting the intersection of human development and natural ecosystems in a changing climate.
Dam data reference
Condition Assessment
- Satisfactory
- No existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. Acceptable performance is expected under all loading conditions (static, hydrologic, seismic) in accordance with the minimum applicable state or federal regulatory criteria or tolerable risk guidelines.
- Fair
- No existing dam safety deficiencies are recognized for normal operating conditions. Rare or extreme hydrologic and/or seismic events may result in a dam safety deficiency. Risk may be in the range to take further action.
- Poor
- A dam safety deficiency is recognized for normal operating conditions which may realistically occur. Remedial action is necessary. POOR may also be used when uncertainties exist as to critical analysis parameters which identify a potential dam safety deficiency.
- Unsatisfactory
- A dam safety deficiency is recognized that requires immediate or emergency remedial action for problem resolution.
- Not Rated
- The dam has not been inspected, is not under state or federal jurisdiction, or has been inspected but, for whatever reason, has not been rated.
Hazard Potential Classification
- High
- Dams assigned the high hazard potential classification are those where failure or mis-operation will probably cause loss of human life.
- Significant
- Dams assigned the significant hazard potential classification are those dams where failure or mis-operation results in no probable loss of human life but can cause economic loss, environmental damage, disruption of lifeline facilities, or impact other concerns. Significant hazard potential classification dams are often located in predominantly rural or agricultural areas but could be in areas with population and significant infrastructure.
- Low
- Dams assigned the low hazard potential classification are those where failure or mis-operation results in no probable loss of human life and low economic and/or environmental losses. Losses are principally limited to the owner's property.
- Undetermined
- Dams for which a downstream hazard potential has not been designated or is not provided.
Plan around the weather
Same NOAA / yr.no feed Snoflo's iOS app uses. Watch the precipitation column on the meteogram -- rain on the basin upstream typically lifts inflow 24-72 hours later.
Next 5 days, hour by hour
Temperature line with weather symbols on top, snow + rain accumulation as columns, humidity as a dotted line.
5-day forecast table
Every 3 hours, broken out across temperature, snow, rain, humidity, and wind. Each cell is colour-coded relative to the column min/max.
| Time | Condition | Temp (°F) | Snow (in) | Rain (in) | Humidity (%) | Wind (mps) | Wind dir |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loading detailed forecast… | |||||||
15-day temperature & precipitation
Daily temperatures, snow, and rain projected over the next two weeks.
Nearby streamflow gauges
USGS streamgauges around Deer Creek Lake Lower Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Barton Ck At Sh 71 Nr Oak Hill | 4 cfs | → |
| Slaughter Ck At Fm 1826 Nr Austin | · | → |
| Bear Ck Bl Fm 1826 Nr Driftwood | 2 cfs | → |
| Bear Ck At Spillar Ranch Rd Nr Manchaca | 3 cfs | → |
| Williamson Ck At Oak Hill | · | → |
| Barton Ck At Lost Ck Blvd Nr Austin | 9 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Deer Creek Lake Lower Dam.
Boat launches
- South Quinlan Park Road 1501, Austin
- Low Water Crossing Road, Austin
- Pace Bend. Tatum Cove. Lake Travis
- Mansfield Park Drive, Austin
- Gloster Bend. Lake Travis
- Bar K Ranch Road 6701, Lago Vista
Campgrounds
- Arkansas Bend - Lake Travis
- Flat Creek Crossing Ranch
- Emma Long Metropolitan Park
- Pedernales Falls State Park
- Pace Bend Park - Lake Travis
- Cypress Creek - Lake Travis
Track Deer Creek Lake Lower Dam in the Snoflo app
Save this dam as a favorite and get the local NOAA / yr.no forecast plus regional flow context wherever you are.
About Deer Creek Lake Lower Dam
Where does the data for Deer Creek Lake Lower Dam come from?
Structural and regulatory data come from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' National Inventory of Dams (NID). Weather forecast comes from NOAA / yr.no -- the same feed Snoflo's iOS app uses.
How often is the report updated?
NID structural data refreshes annually as the Corps publishes updated assessments. The weather forecast refreshes throughout the day.
What does the Not Available hazard rating mean?
The Corps of Engineers' hazard potential classification grades probable consequences if the dam fails: High = probable loss of human life; Significant = no probable loss of human life but possible economic loss / environmental damage; Low = no probable loss of human life, only minor economic / environmental losses. See the Dam Data Reference card above for the full definitions.
What's "% of normal"?
The current storage value compared to the historical average storage on this calendar day. 100% = right on average; values above 100% mean above-normal storage (wet year); values below mean below-normal (dry year or drought).
Can I get alerts when storage crosses a threshold?
Yes -- alerts are managed in the Snoflo iOS app. Favorite this dam, set a threshold, and you'll get a push the moment conditions cross.
Other water bodies near here
Snoflo-tracked reservoirs and dams within driving distance of Deer Creek Lake Lower Dam.