Lake Casa Blanca Dam

Lake Casa Blanca Dam is an earth dam located in Webb County, Texas, built in 1946. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.

About Lake Casa Blanca Dam

The primary purpose of Lake Casa Blanca Dam is irrigation. The dam stores and diverts water for agricultural irrigation, supporting farming operations in the surrounding area. The dam is owned by Webb County (local government). It impounds the Chacon Creek near Laredo.

The dam stands 78 feet tall and stretches 5,800 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 1,650 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 65,000 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 117 square miles. Completed in 1946, the structure is well-established, with more than 75 years of service.

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 12/06/2022.

At 78 feet, this dam is taller than 97% of all dams in the United States.

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.

High HazardFair ConditionEmergency Action Plan: Yes

Location

StateTexas
CountyWebb
Nearest CityLaredo
River/StreamChacon Creek
Coordinates27.53414, -99.44797

Physical Characteristics

Dam TypeEarth
NID Height78 ft
Dam Height73 ft
Dam Length5,800 ft
Year Completed1946 (80 years old)

Storage & Hydraulics

NID Storage65,000 acre-ft
Max Storage65,000 acre-ft
Normal Storage17,480 acre-ft
Surface Area1,650 acres
Drainage Area117 sq mi
Max Discharge178,001 cfs
Spillway TypeUncontrolled

Ownership & Safety

PurposeIrrigation
OwnerWEBB COUNTY
Owner TypeLocal Government
Hazard ClassificationHigh
Condition AssessmentFair
Last Inspection12/06/2022
Emergency Action PlanYes

Identifiers

NID IDTX02267
Federal IDTX02267
More InfoState Dam Safety Program

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