Valley Creek Ws Scs Site 9 Dam
Valley Creek Ws Scs Site 9 Dam is an earth dam located in Taylor County, Texas, built in 1966. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About Valley Creek Ws Scs Site 9 Dam
The primary purpose of Valley Creek Ws Scs Site 9 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 Middle Clear Fork Swcd;taylor County;valley Creek Wcd (local government). It impounds the Cottonwood Creek near Happy Valley.
The dam stands 44 feet tall and stretches 2,940 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 33 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 1,799 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 4 square miles. Completed in 1966, 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. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 04/18/2024.
At 44 feet, this dam is taller than 90% 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 | Taylor |
| Nearest City | Happy Valley |
| River/Stream | Cottonwood Creek |
| Coordinates | 32.17375, -100.12703 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 44 ft |
| Dam Height | 44 ft |
| Dam Length | 2,940 ft |
| Year Completed | 1966 (60 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 1,799 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 1,799 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 183 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 33 acres |
| Drainage Area | 4 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 7,952 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | MIDDLE CLEAR FORK SWCD;TAYLOR COUNTY;VALLEY CREEK WCD |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not Rated |
| Last Inspection | 04/18/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | TX02674 |
| Federal ID | TX02674 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |