Comal River Ws Scs Site 5 Dam is an earth dam located in Comal County, Texas, built in 1957. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 32 ft32 ft tall and 1,100 ft long, taller than 74% 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 Comal River Ws Scs Site 5 Dam
The primary purpose of Comal River Ws Scs Site 5 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 New Braunfels;comal County Commissioners Court;comal-guadalupe Swcd;edwards Aquifer Authority (local government). It impounds the Tr-west Fork Dry Comal Cr near New Braunfels.
The dam stands 32 feet tall and stretches 1,100 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 1 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 636 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 1 square miles. Completed in 1957, 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. 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 07/06/2023.
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 | Comal |
| Nearest City | New Braunfels |
| River/Stream | Tr-west Fork Dry Comal Cr |
| Coordinates | 29.69449, -98.26965 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 32 ft |
| Dam Height | 31 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,100 ft |
| Year Completed | 1957 (69 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 636 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 636 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 44 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 1 acres |
| Drainage Area | 1 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 7,312 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | City of New Braunfels;comal County Commissioners Court;comal-guadalupe Swcd;edwards Aquifer Authority |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 07/06/2023 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | TX01545 |
| Federal ID | TX01545 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |