Stanley Schaeffer Dam

About Stanley Schaeffer Dam

The primary purpose of Stanley Schaeffer Dam is irrigation. The dam stores and diverts water for agricultural irrigation, supporting farming operations in the surrounding area. The dam is owned by Cita Canyon Farms Ltd;stanley Schaeffer (private). It impounds the South Cita Canyon Creek.

The dam stands 43 feet tall and stretches 700 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 15 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 1,498 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 20 square miles. Completed in 1975, 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 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 08/16/2022.

At 43 feet, this dam is taller than 89% 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.

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