Wycliff Avenue Dam
Wycliff Avenue Dam is an earth dam located in Dallas County, Texas, built in 1958. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Wycliff Avenue Dam
The primary purpose of Wycliff Avenue Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by City Of Highland Park (local government). It impounds the Turtle Creek near Dallas.
The dam stands 26 feet tall and stretches 200 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 3 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 39 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 5 square miles. Completed in 1958, 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 04/11/2023.
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 | Dallas |
| Nearest City | Dallas |
| River/Stream | Turtle Creek |
| Coordinates | 32.81981, -96.79976 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 26 ft |
| Dam Height | 24 ft |
| Dam Length | 200 ft |
| Year Completed | 1958 (68 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 39 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 39 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 16 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 3 acres |
| Drainage Area | 5 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 31,000 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | CITY OF HIGHLAND PARK |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 04/11/2023 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | TX04637 |
| Federal ID | TX04637 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |