Mosher Big Lake Dam
Mosher Big Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Bandera County, Texas, built in 1942. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a unsatisfactory condition assessment.
About Mosher Big Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Mosher Big Lake Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Melody Raines (private). It impounds the Tr-bandera Creek.
The dam stands 26 feet tall and stretches 1,125 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 39 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 342 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 1 square miles. Completed in 1942, 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 unsatisfactory, indicating serious safety deficiencies exist that require immediate attention or remedial action. Notably, no emergency action plan is currently on file for this high-hazard dam. The most recent inspection on record was 06/27/2024.
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 | Bandera |
| River/Stream | Tr-bandera Creek |
| Coordinates | 29.78393, -99.06477 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 26 ft |
| Dam Height | 26 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,125 ft |
| Year Completed | 1942 (84 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 342 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 342 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 259 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 39 acres |
| Drainage Area | 1 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 4,466 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | MELODY RAINES |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Unsatisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 06/27/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | TX02913 |
| Federal ID | TX02913 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |