Cooper Dam
Cooper Dam is an earth dam located in Delta County, Texas, built in 1991. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About Cooper Dam
The primary purpose of Cooper 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 Sulphur River near Talco.
The dam stands 95 feet tall and stretches 28,072 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 19,280 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 797,300 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 476 square miles. Completed in 1991, the structure is 35 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 03/20/2024.
At 95 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 | Delta |
| Nearest City | Talco |
| River/Stream | Sulphur River |
| Coordinates | 33.33188, -95.62790 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 95 ft |
| Dam Height | 79 ft |
| Dam Length | 28,072 ft |
| Year Completed | 1991 (35 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 797,300 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 797,300 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 310,800 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 19,280 acres |
| Drainage Area | 476 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 134,700 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 | 03/20/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | TX08012 |
| Federal ID | TX08012 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |