Lytle Lake Dam
Lytle Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Taylor County, Texas, built in 1897. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a unsatisfactory condition assessment.
About Lytle Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Lytle 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 Lytle Lake Water Control And Improvement District (local government). It impounds the Lytle Creek near Abilene.
The dam stands 36 feet tall and stretches 1,450 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 160 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 3,575 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 59 square miles. Completed in 1897, the structure is over a century 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. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 06/28/2023.
At 36 feet, this dam is taller than 83% 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 | Abilene |
| River/Stream | Lytle Creek |
| Coordinates | 32.43473, -99.70825 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 36 ft |
| Dam Height | 31 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,450 ft |
| Year Completed | 1897 (129 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 3,575 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 3,575 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 1,788 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 160 acres |
| Drainage Area | 59 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 76,608 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | LYTLE LAKE WATER CONTROL AND IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Unsatisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 06/28/2023 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | TX02705 |
| Federal ID | TX02705 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |