Turkey Creek Ws Scs Site 6 Dam

Turkey Creek Ws Scs Site 6 Dam is an earth dam located in Callahan County, Texas, built in 1963. It carries a High hazard potential classification.

Hazard potentialHighFailure would probably cost lives
ConditionNot assessed
Emergency action planOn file
Last inspection08/20/2024
Height32 ft
Built196363 years ago

Dam profile

NID height · 32 ft
32 FT TWO-STORY HOUSEMEDIAN U.S. DAM · 24 FT

32 ft tall and 1,100 ft long, taller than 74% of U.S. dams with a recorded height. Height is drawn to scale against a two-story house, about 25 ft; the profile is a generic embankment section and the water level is illustrative.

About Turkey Creek Ws Scs Site 6 Dam

The primary purpose of Turkey Creek Ws Scs Site 6 Dam is flood risk reduction. The dam is designed to control downstream flooding by temporarily storing excess water during storms and releasing it at a controlled rate. The dam is owned by Callahan County;callahan Divide Swcd (local government). It impounds the Cottonwood Creek near Cross Plains.

The dam stands 32 feet tall and stretches 1,100 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 42 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 3,123 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 10 square miles. Completed in 1963, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 years 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 08/20/2024.

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

StateTexas
CountyCallahan
Nearest CityCross Plains
River/StreamCottonwood Creek
Coordinates32.17889, -99.19440

Physical Characteristics

Dam TypeEarth
NID Height32 ft
Dam Height32 ft
Dam Length1,100 ft
Year Completed1963 (63 years old)

Storage & Hydraulics

NID Storage3,123 acre-ft
Max Storage3,123 acre-ft
Normal Storage183 acre-ft
Surface Area42 acres
Drainage Area10 sq mi
Max Discharge6,868 cfs
Spillway TypeUncontrolled

Ownership & Safety

PurposeFlood Risk Reduction
OwnerCallahan County;callahan Divide Swcd
Owner TypeLocal Government
Hazard ClassificationHigh
Condition AssessmentNot assessed
Last Inspection08/20/2024
Emergency Action PlanYes

Identifiers

NID IDTX02924
Federal IDTX02924
More InfoState Dam Safety Program