Lake Wichita Dam
Lake Wichita Dam is an earth dam located in Wichita County, Texas, built in 1901. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Lake Wichita Dam
The primary purpose of Lake Wichita 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 Wichita Falls (local government). It impounds the Holliday Creek near Wichita Falls.
The dam stands 51 feet tall and stretches 10,170 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 1,310 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 57,280 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 143 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 satisfactory, indicating no existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 05/04/2021.
At 51 feet, this dam is taller than 93% 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 | Wichita |
| Nearest City | Wichita Falls |
| River/Stream | Holliday Creek |
| Coordinates | 33.84411, -98.53752 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 51 ft |
| Dam Height | 31 ft |
| Dam Length | 10,170 ft |
| Year Completed | 1901 (125 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 57,280 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 57,280 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 9,301 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 1,310 acres |
| Drainage Area | 143 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 76,300 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | CITY OF WICHITA FALLS |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 05/04/2021 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | TX01017 |
| Federal ID | TX01017 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |