Lake Palo Pinto Dam
Lake Palo Pinto Dam is an earth dam located in Palo Pinto County, Texas, built in 1964. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Lake Palo Pinto Dam
The primary purpose of Lake Palo Pinto 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 Mineral Wells;palo Pinto County Mwd 1 (local government). It impounds the Palo Pinto Creek near Brazos.
The dam stands 96 feet tall and stretches 1,255 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 2,661 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 186,000 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 471 square miles. Completed in 1964, 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 05/30/2023.
At 96 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 | Palo Pinto |
| Nearest City | Brazos |
| River/Stream | Palo Pinto Creek |
| Coordinates | 32.64485, -98.27227 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 96 ft |
| Dam Height | 96 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,255 ft |
| Year Completed | 1964 (62 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 186,000 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 186,000 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 44,100 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 2,661 acres |
| Drainage Area | 471 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 362,299 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | CITY OF MINERAL WELLS;PALO PINTO COUNTY MWD 1 |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 05/30/2023 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | TX03845 |
| Federal ID | TX03845 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |