Cummins Creek Ws Scs Site 21 Dam
Cummins Creek Ws Scs Site 21 Dam is an earth dam located in Fayette County, Texas, built in 1959. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Cummins Creek Ws Scs Site 21 Dam
The primary purpose of Cummins Creek Ws Scs Site 21 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 Fayette County;fayette Swcd;lee-fayette Counties Cummins Creek Wcid 1 (local government). It impounds the Clear Creek near Oldenburg.
The dam stands 41 feet tall and stretches 1,680 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 53 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 3,594 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 5 square miles. Completed in 1959, 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 fair — the dam has minor deficiencies that are being addressed or do not pose an immediate safety threat. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 01/28/2020.
At 41 feet, this dam is taller than 88% of dams nationwide.
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 | Fayette |
| Nearest City | Oldenburg |
| River/Stream | Clear Creek |
| Coordinates | 29.98890, -96.78251 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 41 ft |
| Dam Height | 41 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,680 ft |
| Year Completed | 1959 (67 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 3,594 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 3,594 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 199 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 53 acres |
| Drainage Area | 5 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 6,065 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | FAYETTE COUNTY;FAYETTE SWCD;LEE-FAYETTE COUNTIES CUMMINS CREEK WCID 1 |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 01/28/2020 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | TX01899 |
| Federal ID | TX01899 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |