Upper Nueces Lake Dam
Upper Nueces Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Zavala County, Texas, built in 1947. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Upper Nueces Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Upper Nueces 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 Zavala Dimmit Co Wid 1 (local government). It impounds the Nueces River near Crystal City.
The dam stands 60 feet tall and stretches 612 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 316 acres, and has a maximum storage capacity of 10,350 acre-feet. Completed in 1947, the structure is well-established, with more than 75 years of service.
This dam has a significant hazard potential classification, meaning that a failure could cause significant economic damage — flooding roads, bridges, or property downstream — but is not expected to result in loss of life. 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 11/03/2023.
At 60 feet, this dam is taller than 95% of all dams in the United States.
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Location
| State | Texas |
| County | Zavala |
| Nearest City | Crystal City |
| River/Stream | Nueces River |
| Coordinates | 28.77876, -99.82821 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 60 ft |
| Dam Height | 60 ft |
| Dam Length | 612 ft |
| Year Completed | 1947 (79 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 10,350 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 10,350 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 7,590 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 316 acres |
| Max Discharge | 3,648 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Irrigation |
| Owner | ZAVALA DIMMIT CO WID 1 |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 11/03/2023 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | TX01802 |
| Federal ID | TX01802 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |