Lake Eanes Dam
Lake Eanes Dam is an earth dam located in Comanche County, Texas, built in 1926. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a unsatisfactory condition assessment.
About Lake Eanes Dam
The primary purpose of Lake Eanes Dam is irrigation. The dam stores and diverts water for agricultural irrigation, supporting farming operations in the surrounding area. The dam is owned by P&g Ranch Properties Llc (private). It impounds the Mercer Creek near Newburg.
The dam stands 35 feet tall and stretches 1,433 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 124 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 2,780 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 14 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 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 12/19/2023.
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 | Comanche |
| Nearest City | Newburg |
| River/Stream | Mercer Creek |
| Coordinates | 31.85282, -98.61817 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 35 ft |
| Dam Height | 35 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,433 ft |
| Year Completed | 1926 (100 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 2,780 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 2,780 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 1,092 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 124 acres |
| Drainage Area | 14 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 23,500 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Irrigation |
| Owner | P&G RANCH PROPERTIES LLC |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Unsatisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 12/19/2023 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | TX03492 |
| Federal ID | TX03492 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |