Big Woods Spring Lake Dam
Big Woods Spring Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Wood County, Texas, built in 1966. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a unsatisfactory condition assessment.
About Big Woods Spring Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Big Woods Spring Lake Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Big Woods Springs Improvement Association (private). It impounds the Turkey Creek.
The dam stands 28 feet tall and stretches 875 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 50 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 1,102 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 2 square miles. Completed in 1966, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 years old.
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 unsatisfactory, indicating serious safety deficiencies exist that require immediate attention or remedial action. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 03/27/2024.
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 | Wood |
| River/Stream | Turkey Creek |
| Coordinates | 32.82407, -95.24908 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 28 ft |
| Dam Height | 28 ft |
| Dam Length | 875 ft |
| Year Completed | 1966 (60 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 1,102 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 1,102 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 770 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 50 acres |
| Drainage Area | 2 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 2,900 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | BIG WOODS SPRINGS IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Unsatisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 03/27/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | TX00954 |
| Federal ID | TX00954 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |