Elmendorf Lake Dam
Elmendorf Lake Dam is a concrete dam located in Bexar County, Texas, built in 1967. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About Elmendorf Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Elmendorf Lake 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 San Antonio (local government). It impounds the Apache Creek near San Antonio.
The dam stands 10 feet tall and stretches 2,000 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 17 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 105 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 18 square miles. Completed in 1967, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 years 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. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 09/25/2018. That was 7 years ago, which is on the longer end for a high-hazard structure.
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 | Bexar |
| Nearest City | San Antonio |
| River/Stream | Apache Creek |
| Coordinates | 29.42503, -98.53705 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Concrete |
| NID Height | 10 ft |
| Dam Height | 10 ft |
| Dam Length | 2,000 ft |
| Year Completed | 1967 (59 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 105 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 105 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 105 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 17 acres |
| Drainage Area | 18 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 75,842 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | CITY OF SAN ANTONIO |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not Rated |
| Last Inspection | 09/25/2018 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | TX01446 |
| Federal ID | TX01446 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |