Bowie Lake Dam
Bowie Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Montague County, Texas, built in 1936. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About Bowie Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Bowie Lake Dam is water supply. The dam stores water for municipal, industrial, or agricultural use, helping ensure a reliable supply for the surrounding area. The dam is owned by City Of Bowie (local government). It impounds the West Fk Middle Belknap Creek.
The dam stands 30 feet tall and stretches 2,600 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 218 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 3,984 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 11 square miles. Completed in 1936, 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 04/03/2019. That was 7 years ago, which is on the longer end for a high-hazard structure.
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 | Montague |
| River/Stream | West Fk Middle Belknap Creek |
| Coordinates | 33.65867, -97.92246 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 30 ft |
| Dam Height | 29 ft |
| Dam Length | 2,600 ft |
| Year Completed | 1936 (90 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 3,984 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 3,984 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 2,600 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 218 acres |
| Drainage Area | 11 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 17,950 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | CITY OF BOWIE |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not Rated |
| Last Inspection | 04/03/2019 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | TX00772 |
| Federal ID | TX00772 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |