Red Draw Dam
Red Draw Dam is an earth dam located in Howard County, Texas, built in 1985. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About Red Draw Dam
Red Draw Dam is a dam in Howard, Texas. The dam is owned by Colorado River Municipal Water District (local government). It impounds the Red Draw Tributary Of Beals Creek near Big Spring.
The dam stands 72 feet tall and stretches 1,600 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 326 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 11,422 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 3 square miles. Completed in 1985, the structure is 41 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 03/11/2024.
At 72 feet, this dam is taller than 96% 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 | Howard |
| Nearest City | Big Spring |
| River/Stream | Red Draw Tributary Of Beals Creek |
| Coordinates | 32.23000, -101.37500 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 72 ft |
| Dam Height | 72 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,600 ft |
| Year Completed | 1985 (41 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 11,422 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 11,422 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 8,538 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 326 acres |
| Drainage Area | 3 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 10,000 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Other |
| Owner | COLORADO RIVER MUNICIPAL WATER DISTRICT |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not Rated |
| Last Inspection | 03/11/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | TX05949 |
| Federal ID | TX05949 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |