Lake Abilene Dam
Lake Abilene Dam is an earth dam located in Taylor County, Texas, built in 1921. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About Lake Abilene Dam
The primary purpose of Lake Abilene 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 Elm Creek near Buffalo Gap.
The dam stands 64 feet tall and stretches 5,040 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 583 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 15,990 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 101 square miles. Completed in 1921, the structure is over a century 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. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 12/13/2023.
At 64 feet, this dam is taller than 96% 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 | Taylor |
| Nearest City | Buffalo Gap |
| River/Stream | Elm Creek |
| Coordinates | 32.23434, -99.88897 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 64 ft |
| Dam Height | 64 ft |
| Dam Length | 5,040 ft |
| Year Completed | 1921 (105 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 15,990 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 15,990 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 7,923 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 583 acres |
| Drainage Area | 101 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 214,401 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | CITY OF ABILENE |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not Rated |
| Last Inspection | 12/13/2023 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | TX02692 |
| Federal ID | TX02692 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |