Ferrells Bridge Dam
Ferrells Bridge Dam is an earth dam located in Marion County, Texas, built in 1958. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About Ferrells Bridge Dam
The primary purpose of Ferrells Bridge 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 Cypress Creek near Jefferson.
The dam stands 97 feet tall and stretches 10,600 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 18,700 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 1,998,740 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 850 square miles. Completed in 1958, 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 08/01/2022.
At 97 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 | Marion |
| Nearest City | Jefferson |
| River/Stream | Cypress Creek |
| Coordinates | 32.74999, -94.50440 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 97 ft |
| Dam Height | 97 ft |
| Dam Length | 10,600 ft |
| Year Completed | 1958 (68 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 1,998,740 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 1,998,740 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 254,900 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 18,700 acres |
| Drainage Area | 850 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 79,664 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 | 08/01/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | TX00020 |
| Federal ID | TX00020 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |