Ballinger City Lake Dam
Ballinger City Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Runnels County, Texas, built in 1947. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About Ballinger City Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Ballinger City Lake Dam is debris control. The dam is designed to catch sediment, rocks, and debris carried by flowing water — particularly important in areas prone to mudslides or heavy erosion. The dam is owned by City Of Ballinger (local government). It impounds the Valley Creek near Ballinger.
The dam stands 30 feet tall and stretches 4,120 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 352 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 8,215 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 210 square miles. Completed in 1947, 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 poor, meaning the dam has recognized safety deficiencies that require remediation to address risks. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 12/12/2023.
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 | Runnels |
| Nearest City | Ballinger |
| River/Stream | Valley Creek |
| Coordinates | 31.75899, -100.04485 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 30 ft |
| Dam Height | 30 ft |
| Dam Length | 4,120 ft |
| Year Completed | 1947 (79 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 8,215 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 8,215 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 800 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 352 acres |
| Drainage Area | 210 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 70,001 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Debris Control |
| Owner | CITY OF BALLINGER |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 12/12/2023 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | TX03247 |
| Federal ID | TX03247 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |