North Fork Buffalo Creek Dam
North Fork Buffalo Creek Dam is an earth dam located in Wichita County, Texas, built in 1964. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About North Fork Buffalo Creek Dam
The primary purpose of North Fork Buffalo Creek 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 Iowa Park (local government). It impounds the North Fork Buffalo Creek near Wichita Falls.
The dam stands 46 feet tall and stretches 4,450 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 1,401 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 32,250 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 33 square miles. Completed in 1964, 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 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 05/24/2022.
At 46 feet, this dam is taller than 91% 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 | Wichita |
| Nearest City | Wichita Falls |
| River/Stream | North Fork Buffalo Creek |
| Coordinates | 33.98599, -98.75158 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 46 ft |
| Dam Height | 46 ft |
| Dam Length | 4,450 ft |
| Year Completed | 1964 (62 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 32,250 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 32,250 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 15,400 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 1,401 acres |
| Drainage Area | 33 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 32,500 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | CITY OF IOWA PARK |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 05/24/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | TX01014 |
| Federal ID | TX01014 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |