Sanford Dam
Sanford Dam is an earth dam located in Hutchinson County, Texas, built in 1965. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About Sanford Dam
The primary purpose of Sanford Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Bureau Of Reclamation (federal). It impounds the Canadian River near Canadian.
The dam stands 228 feet tall and stretches 6,380 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 16,513 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 2,385,983 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 7,895 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 03/03/2022.
At 228 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 | Hutchinson |
| Nearest City | Canadian |
| River/Stream | Canadian River |
| Coordinates | 35.71420, -101.55250 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 228 ft |
| Dam Height | 228 ft |
| Dam Length | 6,380 ft |
| Year Completed | 1965 (61 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 2,385,983 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 2,385,983 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 945,400 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 16,513 acres |
| Drainage Area | 7,895 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 19,300 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | BUREAU OF RECLAMATION |
| Owner Type | Federal |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not Available |
| Last Inspection | 03/03/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | TX00023 |
| Federal ID | TX00023 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |