Bistone Dam
Bistone Dam is an earth dam located in Limestone County, Texas, built in 1961. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About Bistone Dam
The primary purpose of Bistone 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 Bistone Mws District (local government). It impounds the Navasota River.
The dam stands 50 feet tall and stretches 1,645 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 1,009 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 44,321 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 198 square miles. Completed in 1961, 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. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 03/14/2019. That was 7 years ago, which is on the longer end for a high-hazard structure.
At 50 feet, this dam is taller than 93% 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 | Limestone |
| River/Stream | Navasota River |
| Coordinates | 31.64394, -96.57923 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 50 ft |
| Dam Height | 50 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,645 ft |
| Year Completed | 1961 (65 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 44,321 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 44,321 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 4,687 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 1,009 acres |
| Drainage Area | 198 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 161,456 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | BISTONE MWS DISTRICT |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not Rated |
| Last Inspection | 03/14/2019 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | TX01061 |
| Federal ID | TX01061 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |