Aquarena Dam
Aquarena Dam is a rockfill dam located in Hays County, Texas, built in 1849. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a unsatisfactory condition assessment.
About Aquarena Dam
The primary purpose of Aquarena Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Texas State University (state). It impounds the San Marcos River near San Marcos.
The dam stands 7 feet tall and stretches 350 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 21 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 160 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 49 square miles. Completed in 1849, the structure is one of the older dams in the region, with over a century and a half of service.
This dam has a significant hazard potential classification, meaning that a failure could cause significant economic damage — flooding roads, bridges, or property downstream — but is not expected to result in loss of life. 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 06/08/2023.
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Location
| State | Texas |
| County | Hays |
| Nearest City | San Marcos |
| River/Stream | San Marcos River |
| Coordinates | 29.88977, -97.93432 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Rockfill |
| NID Height | 7 ft |
| Dam Height | 7 ft |
| Dam Length | 350 ft |
| Year Completed | 1849 (177 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 160 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 160 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 132 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 21 acres |
| Drainage Area | 49 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 2 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | TEXAS STATE UNIVERSITY |
| Owner Type | State |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Unsatisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 06/08/2023 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | TX01588 |
| Federal ID | TX01588 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |