Olmitos And Garcias Crks Ws Scs Site 4 Dam
Olmitos And Garcias Crks Ws Scs Site 4 Dam is an earth dam located in Starr County, Texas, built in 1963. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a unsatisfactory condition assessment.
About Olmitos And Garcias Crks Ws Scs Site 4 Dam
The primary purpose of Olmitos And Garcias Crks Ws Scs Site 4 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 Starr County;starr County Swcd (local government). It impounds the Garcias Creek near Garciasville.
The dam stands 29 feet tall and stretches 4,020 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 57 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 4,309 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 17 square miles. Completed in 1963, 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 unsatisfactory, indicating serious safety deficiencies exist that require immediate attention or remedial action. Notably, no emergency action plan is currently on file for this high-hazard dam. The most recent inspection on record was 06/27/2023.
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 | Starr |
| Nearest City | Garciasville |
| River/Stream | Garcias Creek |
| Coordinates | 26.44088, -98.66131 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 29 ft |
| Dam Height | 29 ft |
| Dam Length | 4,020 ft |
| Year Completed | 1963 (63 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 4,309 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 4,309 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 198 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 57 acres |
| Drainage Area | 17 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 14,542 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | STARR COUNTY;STARR COUNTY SWCD |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Unsatisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 06/27/2023 |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | TX01707 |
| Federal ID | TX01707 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |