South Lake Dam
South Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Jones County, Texas, built in 1939. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a unsatisfactory condition assessment.
About South Lake Dam
The primary purpose of South Lake Dam is water supply. The dam stores water for municipal, industrial, or agricultural use, helping ensure a reliable supply for the surrounding area. The dam is owned by City Of Hamlin (local government). It impounds the Dry California Creek.
The dam stands 38 feet tall and stretches 6,800 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 742 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 6,475 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 35 square miles. Completed in 1939, 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. Its condition is rated unsatisfactory, indicating serious safety deficiencies exist that require immediate attention or remedial action. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 06/02/2021.
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 | Jones |
| River/Stream | Dry California Creek |
| Coordinates | 32.82054, -100.08526 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 38 ft |
| Dam Height | 38 ft |
| Dam Length | 6,800 ft |
| Year Completed | 1939 (87 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 6,475 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 6,475 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 1,900 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 742 acres |
| Drainage Area | 35 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 183,200 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | CITY OF HAMLIN |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Unsatisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 06/02/2021 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | TX02489 |
| Federal ID | TX02489 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |