Harding Lake Dam
Harding Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Freestone County, Texas, built in 1964. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Harding Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Harding Lake Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Jason Smith;jks Ranch Llc (private). It impounds the Jelly Slough near Red Lake.
The dam stands 13 feet tall and stretches 540 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 18 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 116 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 square miles. Completed in 1964, 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. Notably, no emergency action plan is currently on file for this high-hazard dam. The most recent inspection on record was 09/24/2019.
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 | Freestone |
| Nearest City | Red Lake |
| River/Stream | Jelly Slough |
| Coordinates | 31.67306, -95.99462 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 13 ft |
| Dam Height | 13 ft |
| Dam Length | 540 ft |
| Year Completed | 1964 (62 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 116 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 116 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 80 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 18 acres |
| Drainage Area | 0 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 1 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | JASON SMITH;JKS RANCH LLC |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 09/24/2019 |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | TX00674 |
| Federal ID | TX00674 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |