Lake Kemp Dam
Lake Kemp Dam is an earth dam located in Baylor County, Texas, built in 1923. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Lake Kemp Dam
The primary purpose of Lake Kemp Dam is flood risk reduction. The dam is designed to control downstream flooding by temporarily storing excess water during storms and releasing it at a controlled rate. The dam is owned by City Of Wichita Falls;wichita County Wid 2 (local government). It impounds the Big Wichita River.
The dam stands 115 feet tall and stretches 8,890 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 16,540 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 1,078,000 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 2,086 square miles. Completed in 1923, the structure is over a century 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 03/29/2022.
At 115 feet, this dam is taller than 98% 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 | Baylor |
| River/Stream | Big Wichita River |
| Coordinates | 33.75989, -99.15094 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 115 ft |
| Dam Height | 115 ft |
| Dam Length | 8,890 ft |
| Year Completed | 1923 (103 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 1,078,000 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 1,078,000 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 298,900 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 16,540 acres |
| Drainage Area | 2,086 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 1 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | CITY OF WICHITA FALLS;WICHITA COUNTY WID 2 |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 03/29/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | TX04358 |
| Federal ID | TX04358 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |