Tillie Lake Lower Dam
Tillie Lake Lower Dam is an earth dam located in Walker County, Texas, built in 1958. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a unsatisfactory condition assessment.
About Tillie Lake Lower Dam
The primary purpose of Tillie Lake Lower 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 Union Pacific Railroad Company (private). It impounds the Unnamed Trib Phelps Creek near Phelps.
The dam stands 16 feet tall and stretches 1,500 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 10 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 117 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 square miles. Completed in 1958, 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. 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 02/06/2024.
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 | Walker |
| Nearest City | Phelps |
| River/Stream | Unnamed Trib Phelps Creek |
| Coordinates | 30.69870, -95.44428 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 16 ft |
| Dam Height | 16 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,500 ft |
| Year Completed | 1958 (68 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 117 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 117 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 46 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 10 acres |
| Drainage Area | 0 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 575 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | UNION PACIFIC RAILROAD COMPANY |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Unsatisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 02/06/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | TX02949 |
| Federal ID | TX02949 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |