Hidden Lake
Hidden Lake is an earth dam located in Travis County, Texas, built in 1969. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Hidden Lake
The primary purpose of Hidden Lake is irrigation. The dam stores and diverts water for agricultural irrigation, supporting farming operations in the surrounding area. The dam is owned by Balcones Country Club Membership Association Inc (private). It impounds the Tr-bull Creek near Austin.
The dam stands 42 feet tall and stretches 400 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 5 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 183 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 1 square miles. Completed in 1969, 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. Notably, no emergency action plan is currently on file for this high-hazard dam. The most recent inspection on record was 11/04/2020.
At 42 feet, this dam is taller than 89% 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 | Travis |
| Nearest City | Austin |
| River/Stream | Tr-bull Creek |
| Coordinates | 30.43446, -97.79123 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 42 ft |
| Dam Height | 42 ft |
| Dam Length | 400 ft |
| Year Completed | 1969 (57 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 183 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 183 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 76 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 5 acres |
| Drainage Area | 1 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 16,000 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Irrigation |
| Owner | BALCONES COUNTRY CLUB MEMBERSHIP ASSOCIATION INC |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 11/04/2020 |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | TX04413 |
| Federal ID | TX04413 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |