Murvaul Bayou Dam
Murvaul Bayou Dam is an earth dam located in Panola County, Texas, built in 1956. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Murvaul Bayou Dam
The primary purpose of Murvaul Bayou 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 Panola County Fwsd 1 (private). It impounds the Murvaul Creek (murvaul Bayou) near Gary.
The dam stands 51 feet tall and stretches 9,000 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 3,720 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 129,000 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 115 square miles. Completed in 1956, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 years 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 06/15/2022.
At 51 feet, this dam is taller than 93% 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 | Panola |
| Nearest City | Gary |
| River/Stream | Murvaul Creek (murvaul Bayou) |
| Coordinates | 32.03455, -94.42080 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 51 ft |
| Dam Height | 46 ft |
| Dam Length | 9,000 ft |
| Year Completed | 1956 (70 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 129,000 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 129,000 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 45,840 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 3,720 acres |
| Drainage Area | 115 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 49,100 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | PANOLA COUNTY FWSD 1 |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 06/15/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | TX00330 |
| Federal ID | TX00330 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |