Kemp Lake Dam
Kemp Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Kaufman County, Texas, built in 1926. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Kemp Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Kemp Lake Dam is fire protection, stock, or small fish pond. The dam maintains a small impoundment used for fire suppression, livestock watering, or as a fish pond. The dam is owned by Julia Schmitt (private). It impounds the Tr-cedar Creek near Kemp.
The dam stands 35 feet tall and stretches 1,120 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 35 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 469 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 1 square miles. Completed in 1926, 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 fair — the dam has minor deficiencies that are being addressed or do not pose an immediate safety threat. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 09/25/2019.
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 | Kaufman |
| Nearest City | Kemp |
| River/Stream | Tr-cedar Creek |
| Coordinates | 32.42586, -96.20003 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 35 ft |
| Dam Height | 35 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,120 ft |
| Year Completed | 1926 (100 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 469 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 469 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 300 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 35 acres |
| Drainage Area | 1 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 5,584 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Fire Protection, Stock, Or Small Fish Pond |
| Owner | JULIA SCHMITT |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 09/25/2019 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | TX03332 |
| Federal ID | TX03332 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |