Safari Lake Dam
Safari Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Henderson County, Texas, built in 1950. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Safari Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Safari Lake Dam is irrigation. The dam stores and diverts water for agricultural irrigation, supporting farming operations in the surrounding area. The dam is owned by Safari Waters Ranch Poa (private). It impounds the Kile Branch.
The dam stands 27 feet tall and stretches 585 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 47 acres, and has a maximum storage capacity of 1,172 acre-feet. Completed in 1950, 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. Its condition is rated fair — the dam has minor deficiencies that are being addressed or do not pose an immediate safety threat. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 09/28/2021.
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 | Henderson |
| River/Stream | Kile Branch |
| Coordinates | 32.11936, -95.73951 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 27 ft |
| Dam Height | 27 ft |
| Dam Length | 585 ft |
| Year Completed | 1950 (76 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 1,172 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 1,172 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 733 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 47 acres |
| Max Discharge | 1,499 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Irrigation |
| Owner | SAFARI WATERS RANCH POA |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 09/28/2021 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | TX00179 |
| Federal ID | TX00179 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |