Dixie Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Panola County, Texas, built in 1943. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 17 ft17 ft tall and 1,200 ft long. 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 Dixie Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Dixie Lake Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Lake Dixie Inc (private). It impounds the Little Sixmile Creek.
The dam stands 17 feet tall and stretches 1,200 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 122 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 1,420 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 12 square miles. Completed in 1943, 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 06/16/2022.
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 | Panola |
| River/Stream | Little Sixmile Creek |
| Coordinates | 32.12810, -94.36569 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 17 ft |
| Dam Height | 17 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,200 ft |
| Year Completed | 1943 (83 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 1,420 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 1,420 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 740 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 122 acres |
| Drainage Area | 12 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 9,071 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Lake Dixie Inc |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 06/16/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | TX00329 |
| Federal ID | TX00329 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |