Barker Dam
Barker Dam is a gravity dam located in Harris County, Texas, built in 1945. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About Barker Dam
The primary purpose of Barker Dam is flood risk reduction. The dam is designed to control downstream flooding by temporarily storing excess water during storms and releasing it at a controlled rate. The dam is owned by Usace - Galveston District (federal). It impounds the Buffalo Bayou near Houston.
The dam stands 37 feet tall and stretches 71,900 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 1 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 209,592 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 130 square miles. Completed in 1945, the structure is well-established, with more than 75 years of service.
This dam carries a high hazard potential classification, which means that a failure or uncontrolled release of water would likely cause loss of human life. This classification reflects the consequences of failure, not the likelihood — it indicates that people live or work in the area downstream. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 11/07/2025.
At 37 feet, this dam is taller than 84% of dams nationwide.
Living Downstream
If you live or work downstream of this dam, consider taking these steps: learn your local evacuation routes, check whether your county emergency management office has a dam failure inundation map, and sign up for local emergency alerts. The Texas dam safety program can provide more specific information about emergency planning for this structure.
Search for dams near your address to see all dams in your area with hazard classifications and safety data.
Location
| State | Texas |
| County | Harris |
| Nearest City | Houston |
| River/Stream | Buffalo Bayou |
| Coordinates | 29.77066, -95.64658 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Gravity |
| NID Height | 37 ft |
| Dam Height | 37 ft |
| Dam Length | 71,900 ft |
| Year Completed | 1945 (81 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 209,592 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 209,592 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 1 acres |
| Drainage Area | 130 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 8,730 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | USACE - Galveston District |
| Owner Type | Federal |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not Available |
| Last Inspection | 11/07/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | TX00019 |
| Federal ID | TX00019 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |