Ringling Lake Dam
Ringling Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Eastland County, Texas, built in 1922. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a unsatisfactory condition assessment.
About Ringling Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Ringling Lake Dam is water supply. The dam stores water for municipal, industrial, or agricultural use, helping ensure a reliable supply for the surrounding area. The dam is owned by City Of Eastland (local government). It impounds the Tr-north Fork Leon River near Eastland.
The dam stands 18 feet tall and stretches 1,000 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 30 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 272 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 3 square miles. Completed in 1922, 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 unsatisfactory, indicating serious safety deficiencies exist that require immediate attention or remedial action. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 02/28/2023.
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 | Eastland |
| Nearest City | Eastland |
| River/Stream | Tr-north Fork Leon River |
| Coordinates | 32.42416, -98.82908 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 18 ft |
| Dam Height | 18 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,000 ft |
| Year Completed | 1922 (104 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 272 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 272 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 144 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 30 acres |
| Drainage Area | 3 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 575 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | CITY OF EASTLAND |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Unsatisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 02/28/2023 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | TX01410 |
| Federal ID | TX01410 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |