Tom Miller Dam
Tom Miller Dam is a concrete dam located in Travis County, Texas, built in 1939. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Tom Miller Dam
The primary purpose of Tom Miller Dam is irrigation. The dam stores and diverts water for agricultural irrigation, supporting farming operations in the surrounding area. The dam is owned by City Of Austin (local government). It impounds the Colorado River.
The dam stands 85 feet tall and stretches 1,395 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 1,830 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 115,404 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 26,124 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 satisfactory, indicating no existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 10/12/2022.
At 85 feet, this dam is taller than 97% 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 | Travis |
| River/Stream | Colorado River |
| Coordinates | 30.29406, -97.78641 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Concrete |
| NID Height | 85 ft |
| Dam Height | 85 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,395 ft |
| Year Completed | 1939 (87 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 115,404 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 115,404 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 25,200 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 1,830 acres |
| Drainage Area | 26,124 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 1,517,697 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Irrigation |
| Owner | CITY OF AUSTIN |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 10/12/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | TX01086 |
| Federal ID | TX01086 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |