Perrin Lake Dam
Perrin Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Eastland County, Texas, built in 1972. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Perrin Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Perrin 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 Barbara Love (private). It impounds the Salt Branch near Desdemona.
The dam stands 29 feet tall and stretches 684 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 18 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 700 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 3 square miles. Completed in 1972, 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. 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 03/01/2023.
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 | Eastland |
| Nearest City | Desdemona |
| River/Stream | Salt Branch |
| Coordinates | 32.34676, -98.60310 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 29 ft |
| Dam Height | 29 ft |
| Dam Length | 684 ft |
| Year Completed | 1972 (54 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 700 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 700 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 350 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 18 acres |
| Drainage Area | 3 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 1 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Irrigation |
| Owner | BARBARA LOVE |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 03/01/2023 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | TX01413 |
| Federal ID | TX01413 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |