Retama Reservoir Levee
Retama Reservoir Levee is an earth dam located in Hidalgo County, Texas, built in 1935. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About Retama Reservoir Levee
The primary purpose of Retama Reservoir Levee is irrigation. The dam stores and diverts water for agricultural irrigation, supporting farming operations in the surrounding area. The dam is owned by Santa Cruz Water Control And Improvement District No 15 (local government). It impounds the Off Ch near Faysville.
The dam stands 9 feet tall and stretches 12,000 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 630 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 13,500 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 7 square miles. Completed in 1935, 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 04/03/2019. That was 7 years ago, which is on the longer end for a high-hazard structure.
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 | Hidalgo |
| Nearest City | Faysville |
| River/Stream | Off Ch |
| Coordinates | 26.38335, -98.16276 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 9 ft |
| Dam Height | 9 ft |
| Dam Length | 12,000 ft |
| Year Completed | 1935 (91 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 13,500 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 13,500 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 8,864 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 630 acres |
| Drainage Area | 7 sq mi |
| Spillway Type | None |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Irrigation |
| Owner | SANTA CRUZ WATER CONTROL AND IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT NO 15 |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not Rated |
| Last Inspection | 04/03/2019 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | TX03793 |
| Federal ID | TX03793 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |