Amon G Carter Dam
Amon G Carter Dam is an earth dam located in Montague County, Texas, built in 1956. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About Amon G Carter Dam
The primary purpose of Amon G Carter 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 City Of Bowie (local government). It impounds the Big Sandy Creek.
The dam stands 80 feet tall and stretches 2,540 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 1,540 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 58,050 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 100 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. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 12/13/2017. That was 8 years ago, which is on the longer end for a high-hazard structure.
At 80 feet, this dam is taller than 97% of all dams in the United States.
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 | Montague |
| River/Stream | Big Sandy Creek |
| Coordinates | 33.45765, -97.85784 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 80 ft |
| Dam Height | 80 ft |
| Dam Length | 2,540 ft |
| Year Completed | 1956 (70 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 58,050 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 58,050 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 20,050 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 1,540 acres |
| Drainage Area | 100 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 150,460 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | CITY OF BOWIE |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not Rated |
| Last Inspection | 12/13/2017 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | TX00699 |
| Federal ID | TX00699 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |