Whitney Dam - Kopperl Levee
Whitney Dam - Kopperl Levee is an earth dam located in Bosque County, Texas, built in 1951. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About Whitney Dam - Kopperl Levee
The primary purpose of Whitney Dam - Kopperl Levee 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 Brazos River near Waco.
The dam stands 166 feet tall and stretches 17,695 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 23,560 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 2,100,400 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 17,656 square miles. Completed in 1951, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 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 01/20/2025.
At 166 feet, this dam is taller than 99% 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 | Bosque |
| Nearest City | Waco |
| River/Stream | Brazos River |
| Coordinates | 31.85000, -97.36667 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 166 ft |
| Dam Height | 159 ft |
| Dam Length | 17,695 ft |
| Year Completed | 1951 (75 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 2,100,400 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 2,100,400 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 627,100 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 23,560 acres |
| Drainage Area | 17,656 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 632,000 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Controlled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | USACE - Fort Worth District |
| Owner Type | Federal |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not Available |
| Last Inspection | 01/20/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | TX08019 |
| Federal ID | TX00017S001 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |