Fort Parker State Park Lake Dam
Fort Parker State Park Lake Dam is a gravity dam located in Limestone County, Texas, built in 1939. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Fort Parker State Park Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Fort Parker State Park 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 Texas Parks And Wildlife Department (state). It impounds the Navasota River.
The dam stands 64 feet tall and stretches 1,283 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 700 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 21,274 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 239 square miles. Completed in 1939, 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 03/16/2022.
At 64 feet, this dam is taller than 96% 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 | Limestone |
| River/Stream | Navasota River |
| Coordinates | 31.58862, -96.52805 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Gravity |
| NID Height | 64 ft |
| Dam Height | 64 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,283 ft |
| Year Completed | 1939 (87 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 21,274 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 21,274 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 3,100 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 700 acres |
| Drainage Area | 239 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 74,657 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Irrigation |
| Owner | TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFE DEPARTMENT |
| Owner Type | State |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 03/16/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | TX01054 |
| Federal ID | TX01054 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |