Van Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Smith County, Texas, built in 1949. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 36 ft36 ft tall and 1,015 ft long, taller than 82% of U.S. dams with a recorded height. Height is drawn to scale against a two-story house, about 25 ft; the profile is a generic embankment section and the water level is illustrative.
About Van Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Van Lake 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 Etx Paragon Ltd (private). It impounds the Tr-village Creek.
The dam stands 36 feet tall and stretches 1,015 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 90 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 2,050 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 2 square miles. Completed in 1949, 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. Its condition is rated fair — the dam has minor deficiencies that are being addressed or do not pose an immediate safety threat. Notably, no emergency action plan is currently on file for this high-hazard dam. The most recent inspection on record was 05/24/2023.
At 36 feet, this dam is taller than 82% of dams nationwide.
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 | Tr-village Creek |
| Coordinates | 32.54821, -95.58870 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 36 ft |
| Dam Height | 36 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,015 ft |
| Year Completed | 1949 (77 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 2,050 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 2,050 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 1,175 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 90 acres |
| Drainage Area | 2 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 5,913 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | Etx Paragon Ltd |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 05/24/2023 |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | TX00304 |
| Federal ID | TX00304 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |