Lake Sweetwater Dam
Lake Sweetwater Dam is an earth dam located in Nolan County, Texas, built in 1930. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Lake Sweetwater Dam
The primary purpose of Lake Sweetwater 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 Sweetwater (local government). It impounds the Bitter & Cottonwood Creeks near Truby.
The dam stands 69 feet tall and stretches 3,030 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 588 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 19,340 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 104 square miles. Completed in 1930, 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 10/01/2019.
At 69 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 | Nolan |
| Nearest City | Truby |
| River/Stream | Bitter & Cottonwood Creeks |
| Coordinates | 32.43910, -100.30615 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 69 ft |
| Dam Height | 58 ft |
| Dam Length | 3,030 ft |
| Year Completed | 1930 (96 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 19,340 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 19,340 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 10,975 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 588 acres |
| Drainage Area | 104 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 208,954 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | CITY OF SWEETWATER |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 10/01/2019 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | TX02735 |
| Federal ID | TX02735 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |