Morris Sheppard Dam

About Morris Sheppard Dam

The primary purpose of Morris Sheppard Dam is irrigation. The dam stores and diverts water for agricultural irrigation, supporting farming operations in the surrounding area. The dam is owned by Brazos River Authority (local government). It impounds the Brazos River.

The dam stands 189 feet tall and stretches 2,740 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 17,700 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 1,365,000 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 14,030 square miles. Completed in 1941, 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 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 05/31/2023.

At 189 feet, this dam is taller than 99% 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.

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