Bellwood Lake Dam
Bellwood Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Smith County, Texas, built in 1894. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Bellwood Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Bellwood Lake Dam is irrigation. The dam stores and diverts water for agricultural irrigation, supporting farming operations in the surrounding area. The dam is owned by City Of Tyler (local government). It impounds the Indian Creek.
The dam stands 28 feet tall and stretches 600 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 162 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 2,671 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 5 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. 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 09/22/2021.
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 | Smith |
| River/Stream | Indian Creek |
| Coordinates | 32.33127, -95.36908 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 28 ft |
| Dam Height | 28 ft |
| Dam Length | 600 ft |
| Year Completed | 1894 (132 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 2,671 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 2,671 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 1,391 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 162 acres |
| Drainage Area | 5 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 2 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Irrigation |
| Owner | CITY OF TYLER |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 09/22/2021 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | TX00252 |
| Federal ID | TX00252 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |