Sunset Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Walker County, Texas, built in 1951. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 25 ft25 ft tall and 850 ft long, taller than 50% 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 Sunset Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Sunset Lake Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Sunset Lake Club (private). It impounds the Mcdonald Creek near Conroe.
The dam stands 25 feet tall and stretches 850 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 45 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 960 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 4 square miles. Completed in 1951, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 years old.
This dam has a significant hazard potential classification, meaning that a failure could cause significant economic damage — flooding roads, bridges, or property downstream — but is not expected to result in loss of life. 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 10/18/2023.
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Location
| State | Texas |
| County | Walker |
| Nearest City | Conroe |
| River/Stream | Mcdonald Creek |
| Coordinates | 30.64636, -95.57976 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 25 ft |
| Dam Height | 25 ft |
| Dam Length | 850 ft |
| Year Completed | 1951 (75 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 960 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 960 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 320 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 45 acres |
| Drainage Area | 4 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 2 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Sunset Lake Club |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 10/18/2023 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | TX02955 |
| Federal ID | TX02955 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |