Blackburn Crossing Dam
Blackburn Crossing Dam is an earth dam located in County, Texas, built in 1962. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Blackburn Crossing Dam
The primary purpose of Blackburn Crossing Dam is water supply. The dam stores water for municipal, industrial, or agricultural use, helping ensure a reliable supply for the surrounding area. The dam is owned by Upper Neches River Mwa (local government). It impounds the Neches River near Neches.
The dam stands 75 feet tall and stretches 5,720 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 25,560 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 1,045,000 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 847 square miles. Completed in 1962, 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. Its condition is rated fair — the dam has minor deficiencies that are being addressed or do not pose an immediate safety threat. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 03/15/2022.
At 75 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 |
| Nearest City | Neches |
| River/Stream | Neches River |
| Coordinates | 32.05702, -95.43675 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 75 ft |
| Dam Height | 75 ft |
| Dam Length | 5,720 ft |
| Year Completed | 1962 (64 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 1,045,000 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 1,045,000 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 373,204 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 25,560 acres |
| Drainage Area | 847 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 187,056 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | UPPER NECHES RIVER MWA |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 03/15/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | TX00170 |
| Federal ID | TX00170 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |