Hitts Lake Dam
Hitts Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Smith County, Texas, built in 1945. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About Hitts Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Hitts 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 Hitts Lake North (private). It impounds the Hitts Creek.
The dam stands 26 feet tall and stretches 610 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 102 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 1,380 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 5 square miles. Completed in 1945, 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 10/03/2023.
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 | Hitts Creek |
| Coordinates | 32.45041, -95.30484 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 26 ft |
| Dam Height | 26 ft |
| Dam Length | 610 ft |
| Year Completed | 1945 (81 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 1,380 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 1,380 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 852 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 102 acres |
| Drainage Area | 5 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 560 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Irrigation |
| Owner | HITTS LAKE NORTH |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not Rated |
| Last Inspection | 10/03/2023 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | TX00269 |
| Federal ID | TX00269 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |