Turkey Creek Ws Scs Site 5 Dam
Turkey Creek Ws Scs Site 5 Dam is an earth dam located in Callahan County, Texas, built in 1963. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About Turkey Creek Ws Scs Site 5 Dam
The primary purpose of Turkey Creek Ws Scs Site 5 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 Tr-cottonwood Creek near Cottonwood.
The dam stands 35 feet tall and stretches 2,460 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 5 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 487 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 1 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 08/21/2024.
At 35 feet, this dam is taller than 82% of dams nationwide.
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 | Callahan |
| Nearest City | Cottonwood |
| River/Stream | Tr-cottonwood Creek |
| Coordinates | 32.21646, -99.18912 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 35 ft |
| Dam Height | 35 ft |
| Dam Length | 2,460 ft |
| Year Completed | 1963 (63 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 487 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 487 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 27 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 5 acres |
| Drainage Area | 1 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 1,565 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | CALLAHAN COUNTY;CALLAHAN DIVIDE SWCD |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not Rated |
| Last Inspection | 08/21/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | TX02928 |
| Federal ID | TX02928 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |