La Joya Lake Dam
La Joya Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Hidalgo County, Texas, built in 1955. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About La Joya Lake Dam
The primary purpose of La Joya Lake Dam is irrigation. The dam stores and diverts water for agricultural irrigation, supporting farming operations in the surrounding area. The dam is owned by Hidlago County Irrigation District 16 (local government). It impounds the La Joya Creek near Havana.
The dam stands 19 feet tall and stretches 1,810 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 357 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 3,500 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 178 square miles. Completed in 1955, 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. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 04/02/2024.
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 | Hidalgo |
| Nearest City | Havana |
| River/Stream | La Joya Creek |
| Coordinates | 26.25000, -98.49833 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 19 ft |
| Dam Height | 19 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,810 ft |
| Year Completed | 1955 (71 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 3,500 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 3,500 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 1,848 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 357 acres |
| Drainage Area | 178 sq mi |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Irrigation |
| Owner | HIDLAGO COUNTY IRRIGATION DISTRICT 16 |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not Rated |
| Last Inspection | 04/02/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | TX03792 |
| Federal ID | TX03792 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |