Oak Creek Dam
Oak Creek Dam is an earth dam located in Coke County, Texas, built in 1952. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Oak Creek Dam
The primary purpose of Oak Creek 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 City Of Sweetwater (local government). It impounds the Oak Creek.
The dam stands 95 feet tall and stretches 3,800 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 2,375 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 79,336 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 244 square miles. Completed in 1952, 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 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 10/01/2019.
At 95 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 | Coke |
| River/Stream | Oak Creek |
| Coordinates | 32.04018, -100.26830 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 95 ft |
| Dam Height | 87 ft |
| Dam Length | 3,800 ft |
| Year Completed | 1952 (74 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 79,336 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 79,336 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 39,360 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 2,375 acres |
| Drainage Area | 244 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 2 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | CITY OF SWEETWATER |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 10/01/2019 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | TX03516 |
| Federal ID | TX03516 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |