Aquilla Dam
Aquilla Dam is an earth dam located in Hill County, Texas, built in 1983. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About Aquilla Dam
The primary purpose of Aquilla Dam is flood risk reduction. The dam is designed to control downstream flooding by temporarily storing excess water during storms and releasing it at a controlled rate. The dam is owned by Usace - Fort Worth District (federal). It impounds the Aquilla Creek near Waco.
The dam stands 104 feet tall and stretches 11,800 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 3,280 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 420,840 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 252 square miles. Completed in 1983, the structure is 43 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 04/16/2021.
At 104 feet, this dam is taller than 98% 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 | Hill |
| Nearest City | Waco |
| River/Stream | Aquilla Creek |
| Coordinates | 31.89825, -97.20520 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 104 ft |
| Dam Height | 104 ft |
| Dam Length | 11,800 ft |
| Year Completed | 1983 (43 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 420,840 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 420,840 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 45,962 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 3,280 acres |
| Drainage Area | 252 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 126,800 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | USACE - Fort Worth District |
| Owner Type | Federal |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not Available |
| Last Inspection | 04/16/2021 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | TX08004 |
| Federal ID | TX08004 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |