Bachman Lake Dam
Bachman Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Dallas County, Texas, built in 1901. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a unsatisfactory condition assessment.
About Bachman Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Bachman Lake 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 Arcadis Us Inc;city Of Dallas (local government). It impounds the Bachman Branch near Dallas.
The dam stands 35 feet tall and stretches 1,800 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 50 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 2,460 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 12 square miles. Completed in 1901, 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 05/21/2024.
At 35 feet, this dam is taller than 82% 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 | Dallas |
| Nearest City | Dallas |
| River/Stream | Bachman Branch |
| Coordinates | 32.84868, -96.87130 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 35 ft |
| Dam Height | 35 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,800 ft |
| Year Completed | 1901 (125 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 2,460 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 2,460 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 959 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 50 acres |
| Drainage Area | 12 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 28,648 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | ARCADIS US INC;CITY OF DALLAS |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Unsatisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 05/21/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | TX00830 |
| Federal ID | TX00830 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |