Lake Brownwood Dam
Lake Brownwood Dam is an earth dam located in Brown County, Texas, built in 1933. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Lake Brownwood Dam
The primary purpose of Lake Brownwood 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 Brown County Wid 1 (local government). It impounds the Pecan Bayou near Brownwood.
The dam stands 120 feet tall and stretches 1,580 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 7,300 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 1,011,829 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 1,544 square miles. Completed in 1933, 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 satisfactory, indicating no existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 11/09/2022.
At 120 feet, this dam is taller than 98% of all dams in the United States.
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 | Brown |
| Nearest City | Brownwood |
| River/Stream | Pecan Bayou |
| Coordinates | 31.83844, -99.00268 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 120 ft |
| Dam Height | 120 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,580 ft |
| Year Completed | 1933 (93 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 1,011,829 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 1,011,829 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 131,429 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 7,300 acres |
| Drainage Area | 1,544 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 450,000 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | BROWN COUNTY WID 1 |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 11/09/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | TX02789 |
| Federal ID | TX02789 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |