Bell Branch Ranch Dam

Bell Branch Ranch Dam is an earth dam located in Ellis County, Texas, built in 1965. It carries a Low hazard potential classification.

About Bell Branch Ranch Dam

The primary purpose of Bell Branch Ranch Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Bell Branch Ranch Van C Ellis (private). It impounds the Bell Branch.

The dam stands 40 feet tall and stretches 1,000 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 30 acres, and has a maximum storage capacity of 550 acre-feet. Completed in 1965, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 years old.

This dam has a low hazard potential classification, meaning that failure would cause minimal damage, limited primarily to the dam owner's property, with no expected loss of life.

At 40 feet, this dam is taller than 87% of dams nationwide.

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Low HazardNot Rated ConditionEmergency Action Plan: Not Required

Location

StateTexas
CountyEllis
River/StreamBell Branch
Coordinates32.23220, -96.92655

Physical Characteristics

Dam TypeEarth
NID Height40 ft
Dam Height40 ft
Dam Length1,000 ft
Year Completed1965 (61 years old)

Storage & Hydraulics

NID Storage550 acre-ft
Max Storage550 acre-ft
Normal Storage288 acre-ft
Surface Area30 acres
Spillway TypeUncontrolled

Ownership & Safety

PurposeRecreation
OwnerBELL BRANCH RANCH VAN C ELLIS
Owner TypePrivate
Hazard ClassificationLow
Condition AssessmentNot Rated
Emergency Action PlanNot Required

Identifiers

NID IDTX01240
Federal IDTX01240
More InfoState Dam Safety Program

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