Fort Phantom Hill Dam
Fort Phantom Hill Dam is an earth dam located in Jones County, Texas, built in 1938. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Fort Phantom Hill Dam
The primary purpose of Fort Phantom Hill Dam is water supply. The dam stores water for municipal, industrial, or agricultural use, helping ensure a reliable supply for the surrounding area. The dam is owned by City Of Abilene (local government). It impounds the Big Elm Creek near Nugent.
The dam stands 84 feet tall and stretches 3,740 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 4,246 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 136,076 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 481 square miles. Completed in 1938, 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 06/03/2021.
At 84 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.
Location
| State | Texas |
| County | Jones |
| Nearest City | Nugent |
| River/Stream | Big Elm Creek |
| Coordinates | 32.61697, -99.66845 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 84 ft |
| Dam Height | 84 ft |
| Dam Length | 3,740 ft |
| Year Completed | 1938 (88 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 136,076 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 136,076 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 70,300 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 4,246 acres |
| Drainage Area | 481 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 307,800 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | CITY OF ABILENE |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 06/03/2021 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | TX02483 |
| Federal ID | TX02483 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |