Ballinger Municipal Lake Dam
Ballinger Municipal Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Runnels County, Texas, built in 1985. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Ballinger Municipal Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Ballinger Municipal Lake 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 Ballinger (local government). It impounds the Valley Creek near Ballinger.
The dam stands 76 feet tall and stretches 6,200 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 560 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 34,353 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 234 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. 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 12/12/2023.
At 76 feet, this dam is taller than 97% 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 | Runnels |
| Nearest City | Ballinger |
| River/Stream | Valley Creek |
| Coordinates | 31.73046, -100.04037 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 76 ft |
| Dam Height | 76 ft |
| Dam Length | 6,200 ft |
| Year Completed | 1985 (41 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 34,353 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 34,353 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 6,050 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 560 acres |
| Drainage Area | 234 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 237,034 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | CITY OF BALLINGER |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 12/12/2023 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | TX05952 |
| Federal ID | TX05952 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |