Crystal Lake Dam
Crystal Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Anderson County, Texas, built in 1894. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About Crystal Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Crystal Lake Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Palestine Fishing Club Of Palestine Texas (private). It impounds the Tr-stills Creek.
The dam stands 26 feet tall and stretches 450 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 51 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 1,140 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 3 square miles. Completed in 1894, the structure is over a century 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. Notably, no emergency action plan is currently on file for this high-hazard dam. The most recent inspection on record was 07/02/2019.
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 | Anderson |
| River/Stream | Tr-stills Creek |
| Coordinates | 31.74405, -95.50251 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 26 ft |
| Dam Height | 26 ft |
| Dam Length | 450 ft |
| Year Completed | 1894 (132 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 1,140 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 1,140 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 377 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 51 acres |
| Drainage Area | 3 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 2 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | PALESTINE FISHING CLUB OF PALESTINE TEXAS |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not Rated |
| Last Inspection | 07/02/2019 |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | TX00139 |
| Federal ID | TX00139 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |