Great Northern Dam
Great Northern Dam is an earth dam located in Travis County, Texas, built in 1978. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Great Northern Dam
The primary purpose of Great Northern Dam is fire protection, stock, or small fish pond. The dam maintains a small impoundment used for fire suppression, livestock watering, or as a fish pond. The dam is owned by City Of Austin (local government).
The dam stands 25 feet tall and stretches 1,200 feet across, has a maximum storage capacity of 64 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 square miles. Completed in 1978, the structure is 48 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 satisfactory, indicating no existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 07/22/2021.
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 |
| Coordinates | 30.35131, -97.74534 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 25 ft |
| Dam Height | 25 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,200 ft |
| Year Completed | 1978 (48 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 64 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 64 acre-ft |
| Drainage Area | 0 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 2,230 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Fire Protection, Stock, Or Small Fish Pond |
| Owner | CITY OF AUSTIN |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 07/22/2021 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | TX07219 |
| Federal ID | TX07219 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |