Lake Cliff Dam is an earth dam located in Dallas County, Texas, built in 1914. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a unsatisfactory condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 26 ft26 ft tall and 300 ft long, taller than 55% 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 Lake Cliff Dam
The primary purpose of Lake Cliff Dam is flood risk reduction. The dam is designed to control downstream flooding by temporarily storing excess water during storms and releasing it at a controlled rate. The dam is owned by City of Dallas (local government). It impounds the Tr-trinity River near Dallas.
The dam stands 26 feet tall and stretches 300 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 7 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 246 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 square miles. Completed in 1914, the structure is over a century 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 unsatisfactory, indicating serious safety deficiencies exist that require immediate attention or remedial action. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 06/23/2021.
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 | Dallas |
| Nearest City | Dallas |
| River/Stream | Tr-trinity River |
| Coordinates | 32.75854, -96.81833 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 26 ft |
| Dam Height | 26 ft |
| Dam Length | 300 ft |
| Year Completed | 1914 (112 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 246 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 246 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 77 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 7 acres |
| Drainage Area | 0 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 1,300 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | City of Dallas |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Unsatisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 06/23/2021 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | TX00829 |
| Federal ID | TX00829 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |