Murchison Lake Dam
Murchison Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Henderson County, Texas, built in 1950. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About Murchison Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Murchison Lake Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Circle Ten Council Bsa (private). It impounds the Shelton Mill Branch.
The dam stands 25 feet tall and stretches 1,300 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 267 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 3,440 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 13 square miles. Completed in 1950, the structure is well-established, with more than 75 years of service.
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 01/24/2024.
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 |
| River/Stream | Shelton Mill Branch |
| Coordinates | 32.10485, -95.85745 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 25 ft |
| Dam Height | 25 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,300 ft |
| Year Completed | 1950 (76 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 3,440 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 3,440 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 900 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 267 acres |
| Drainage Area | 13 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 3 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | CIRCLE TEN COUNCIL BSA |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not Rated |
| Last Inspection | 01/24/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | TX00198 |
| Federal ID | TX00198 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |