Lake Hawkins Dam
Lake Hawkins Dam is an earth dam located in Wood County, Texas, built in 1962. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About Lake Hawkins Dam
The primary purpose of Lake Hawkins 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 Wood County (local government). It impounds the Little Sandy Creek.
The dam stands 57 feet tall and stretches 1,300 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 1,064 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 40,200 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 30 square miles. Completed in 1962, 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 03/28/2024.
At 57 feet, this dam is taller than 95% 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 | Wood |
| River/Stream | Little Sandy Creek |
| Coordinates | 32.61161, -95.25146 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 57 ft |
| Dam Height | 54 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,300 ft |
| Year Completed | 1962 (64 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 40,200 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 40,200 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 11,890 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 1,064 acres |
| Drainage Area | 30 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 28,640 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | WOOD COUNTY |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not Rated |
| Last Inspection | 03/28/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | TX00920 |
| Federal ID | TX00920 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |