Bardwell Dam
Bardwell Dam is an earth dam located in Ellis County, Texas, built in 1965. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About Bardwell Dam
The primary purpose of Bardwell 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 Waxahachie Creek near Corsicana.
The dam stands 82 feet tall and stretches 15,400 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 3,570 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 317,483 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 178 square miles. Completed in 1965, 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 03/28/2021.
At 82 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 | Ellis |
| Nearest City | Corsicana |
| River/Stream | Waxahachie Creek |
| Coordinates | 32.25097, -96.64137 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 82 ft |
| Dam Height | 82 ft |
| Dam Length | 15,400 ft |
| Year Completed | 1965 (61 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 317,483 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 317,483 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 54,866 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 3,570 acres |
| Drainage Area | 178 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 102,944 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 | 03/28/2021 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | TX00001 |
| Federal ID | TX00001 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |