Lake Clark Dam
Lake Clark Dam is an earth dam located in Ellis County, Texas, built in 1940. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About Lake Clark Dam
The primary purpose of Lake Clark 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 City Of Ennis (local government). It impounds the Little Mustang Creek.
The dam stands 38 feet tall and stretches 2,760 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 204 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 3,724 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 2 square miles. Completed in 1940, 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. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 10/09/2023.
At 38 feet, this dam is taller than 85% 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 | Little Mustang Creek |
| Coordinates | 32.32455, -96.65651 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 38 ft |
| Dam Height | 38 ft |
| Dam Length | 2,760 ft |
| Year Completed | 1940 (86 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 3,724 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 3,724 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 1,549 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 204 acres |
| Drainage Area | 2 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 11,923 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | CITY OF ENNIS |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not Rated |
| Last Inspection | 10/09/2023 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | TX01286 |
| Federal ID | TX01286 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |