Lake Athens Dam
Lake Athens Dam is an earth dam located in Henderson County, Texas, built in 1963. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Lake Athens Dam
The primary purpose of Lake Athens 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 Athens Municipal Water Authority (local government). It impounds the Flat Creek near Athens.
The dam stands 59 feet tall and stretches 3,000 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 1,471 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 56,816 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 21 square miles. Completed in 1963, 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 59 feet, this dam is taller than 95% 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 | Henderson |
| Nearest City | Athens |
| River/Stream | Flat Creek |
| Coordinates | 32.20649, -95.72396 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 59 ft |
| Dam Height | 57 ft |
| Dam Length | 3,000 ft |
| Year Completed | 1963 (63 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 56,816 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 56,816 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 32,840 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 1,471 acres |
| Drainage Area | 21 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 18,743 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | ATHENS MUNICIPAL WATER AUTHORITY |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 03/15/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | TX00182 |
| Federal ID | TX00182 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |