Bivins Lake Dam
Bivins Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Randall County, Texas, built in 1926. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Bivins Lake Dam
Bivins Lake Dam is a dam in Randall, Texas. The dam is owned by City Of Amarillo (local government). It impounds the Palo Duro Creek near Canyon.
The dam stands 47 feet tall and stretches 1,600 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 379 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 11,203 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 140 square miles. Completed in 1926, 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 satisfactory, indicating no existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 08/17/2022.
At 47 feet, this dam is taller than 92% 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 | Randall |
| Nearest City | Canyon |
| River/Stream | Palo Duro Creek |
| Coordinates | 35.03685, -102.02694 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 47 ft |
| Dam Height | 47 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,600 ft |
| Year Completed | 1926 (100 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 11,203 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 11,203 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 5,131 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 379 acres |
| Drainage Area | 140 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 81,520 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Other |
| Owner | CITY OF AMARILLO |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 08/17/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | TX03584 |
| Federal ID | TX03584 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |