Houston County Lake Dam
Houston County Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Houston County, Texas, built in 1966. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Houston County Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Houston County Lake Dam is water supply. The dam stores water for municipal, industrial, or agricultural use, helping ensure a reliable supply for the surrounding area. The dam is owned by Houston County Wcid 1 (local government). It impounds the Little Elkhart Creek.
The dam stands 63 feet tall and stretches 1,700 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 1,282 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 56,422 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 44 square miles. Completed in 1966, 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. 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 08/15/2023.
At 63 feet, this dam is taller than 96% of all dams in the United States.
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 | Houston |
| River/Stream | Little Elkhart Creek |
| Coordinates | 31.40647, -95.60388 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 63 ft |
| Dam Height | 50 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,700 ft |
| Year Completed | 1966 (60 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 56,422 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 56,422 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 27,091 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 1,282 acres |
| Drainage Area | 44 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 2 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | HOUSTON COUNTY WCID 1 |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 08/15/2023 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | TX03268 |
| Federal ID | TX03268 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |