Belton Dam
Belton Dam is an earth dam located in Bell County, Texas, built in 1954. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About Belton Dam
The primary purpose of Belton 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 Leon River near Belton.
The dam stands 192 feet tall and stretches 5,524 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 12,300 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 1,876,700 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 3,560 square miles. Completed in 1954, 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 04/15/2024.
At 192 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 | Bell |
| Nearest City | Belton |
| River/Stream | Leon River |
| Coordinates | 31.10852, -97.47268 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 192 ft |
| Dam Height | 192 ft |
| Dam Length | 5,524 ft |
| Year Completed | 1954 (72 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 1,876,700 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 1,876,700 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 457,600 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 12,300 acres |
| Drainage Area | 3,560 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 472,500 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 | 04/15/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | TX00002 |
| Federal ID | TX00002 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |