Lake Diversion Dam
Lake Diversion Dam is an earth dam located in Archer County, Texas, built in 1924. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About Lake Diversion Dam
The primary purpose of Lake Diversion 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 City Of Wichita Falls;wichita County Wid 2 (local government). It impounds the Wichita River.
The dam stands 59 feet tall and stretches 4,182 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 3,133 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 144,162 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 3 square miles. Completed in 1924, the structure is over a century 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 poor, meaning the dam has recognized safety deficiencies that require remediation to address risks. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 05/05/2021.
At 59 feet, this dam is taller than 95% of all dams in the United States.
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 | Archer |
| River/Stream | Wichita River |
| Coordinates | 33.81483, -98.93355 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 59 ft |
| Dam Height | 59 ft |
| Dam Length | 4,182 ft |
| Year Completed | 1924 (102 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 144,162 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 144,162 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 33,420 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 3,133 acres |
| Drainage Area | 3 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 445,467 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | CITY OF WICHITA FALLS;WICHITA COUNTY WID 2 |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 05/05/2021 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | TX01011 |
| Federal ID | TX01011 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |