Huntsville State Park Dam
Huntsville State Park Dam is an earth dam located in Walker County, Texas, built in 1938. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About Huntsville State Park Dam
The primary purpose of Huntsville State Park Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Texas Parks And Wildlife Department (state). It impounds the Prairie Branch.
The dam stands 35 feet tall and stretches 1,400 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 207 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 7,103 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 14 square miles. Completed in 1938, 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. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 07/24/2023.
At 35 feet, this dam is taller than 82% 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 | Walker |
| River/Stream | Prairie Branch |
| Coordinates | 30.60878, -95.53337 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 35 ft |
| Dam Height | 35 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,400 ft |
| Year Completed | 1938 (88 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 7,103 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 7,103 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 1,498 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 207 acres |
| Drainage Area | 14 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 28,800 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFE DEPARTMENT |
| Owner Type | State |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not Rated |
| Last Inspection | 07/24/2023 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | TX02952 |
| Federal ID | TX02952 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |