Bell Branch Ranch Dam is an earth dam located in Ellis County, Texas, built in 1965. It carries a Low hazard potential classification.
Dam profile
NID height · 40 ft40 ft tall and 1,000 ft long, taller than 86% 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 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 86% of dams nationwide.
Search for dams near your address to see all dams in your area with hazard classifications and safety data.
Location
| State | Texas |
| County | Ellis |
| River/Stream | Bell Branch |
| Coordinates | 32.23220, -96.92655 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 40 ft |
| Dam Height | 40 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,000 ft |
| Year Completed | 1965 (61 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 550 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 550 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 288 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 30 acres |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Bell Branch Ranch Van C Ellis |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Low |
| Condition Assessment | Not assessed |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | TX01240 |
| Federal ID | TX01240 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |