Santa Rosa Dam is an earth dam located in Wilbarger County, Texas, built in 1929. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
Dam profile
NID height · 45 ft45 ft tall and 3,000 ft long, taller than 90% 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 Santa Rosa Dam
The primary purpose of Santa Rosa Dam is irrigation. The dam stores and diverts water for agricultural irrigation, supporting farming operations in the surrounding area. The dam is owned by Wt Waggoner Estate Inc (private). It impounds the Beaver Creek.
The dam stands 45 feet tall and stretches 3,000 feet across, has a maximum storage capacity of 42,200 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 327 square miles. Completed in 1929, the structure is well-established, with more than 75 years of service.
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 07/23/2024.
At 45 feet, this dam is taller than 90% 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 | Wilbarger |
| River/Stream | Beaver Creek |
| Coordinates | 33.94094, -99.25995 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 45 ft |
| Dam Height | 45 ft |
| Dam Length | 3,000 ft |
| Year Completed | 1929 (97 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 42,200 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 42,200 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 9,556 acre-ft |
| Drainage Area | 327 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 122,326 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Irrigation |
| Owner | Wt Waggoner Estate Inc |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not assessed |
| Last Inspection | 07/23/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | TX00965 |
| Federal ID | TX00965 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |