Nix Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Rusk County, Texas, built in 1940. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
Dam profile
NID height · 23 ft23 ft tall and 525 ft long. 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 Nix Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Nix Lake Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Glen Hughes (private). It impounds the Wasson Branch.
The dam stands 23 feet tall and stretches 525 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 135 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 1,398 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 3 square miles. Completed in 1940, 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. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 10/02/2023.
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 | Rusk |
| River/Stream | Wasson Branch |
| Coordinates | 32.24981, -94.65447 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 23 ft |
| Dam Height | 23 ft |
| Dam Length | 525 ft |
| Year Completed | 1940 (86 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 1,398 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 1,398 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 708 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 135 acres |
| Drainage Area | 3 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 2 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Glen Hughes |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not assessed |
| Last Inspection | 10/02/2023 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | TX03546 |
| Federal ID | TX03546 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |