Chambers Creek Ws Scs Site 56 Dam
Chambers Creek Ws Scs Site 56 Dam is an earth dam located in Ellis County, Texas, built in 1969. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About Chambers Creek Ws Scs Site 56 Dam
The primary purpose of Chambers Creek Ws Scs Site 56 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 Ellis County;ellis Prairie Swcd (local government). It impounds the Oak Branch.
The dam stands 54 feet tall and stretches 1,361 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 33 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 2,573 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 5 square miles. Completed in 1969, 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 02/01/2024.
At 54 feet, this dam is taller than 94% 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 | Ellis |
| River/Stream | Oak Branch |
| Coordinates | 32.32720, -96.97531 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 54 ft |
| Dam Height | 54 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,361 ft |
| Year Completed | 1969 (57 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 2,573 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 2,573 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 200 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 33 acres |
| Drainage Area | 5 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 0 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | ELLIS COUNTY;ELLIS PRAIRIE SWCD |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not Rated |
| Last Inspection | 02/01/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | TX01261 |
| Federal ID | TX01261 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |