Pinkston Dam
Pinkston Dam is an earth dam located in Shelby County, Texas, built in 1977. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Pinkston Dam
The primary purpose of Pinkston Dam is water supply. The dam stores water for municipal, industrial, or agricultural use, helping ensure a reliable supply for the surrounding area. The dam is owned by City Of Center (local government). It impounds the Sandy Creek near Center.
The dam stands 64 feet tall and stretches 2,600 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 549 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 13,500 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 14 square miles. Completed in 1977, the structure is 49 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 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 11/04/2020.
At 64 feet, this dam is taller than 96% 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.
Search for dams near your address to see all dams in your area with hazard classifications and safety data.
Location
| State | Texas |
| County | Shelby |
| Nearest City | Center |
| River/Stream | Sandy Creek |
| Coordinates | 31.70500, -94.36333 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 64 ft |
| Dam Height | 62 ft |
| Dam Length | 2,600 ft |
| Year Completed | 1977 (49 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 13,500 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 13,500 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 7,380 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 549 acres |
| Drainage Area | 14 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 5,621 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | CITY OF CENTER |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 11/04/2020 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | TX04355 |
| Federal ID | TX04355 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |