Pat Mayse Dam
Pat Mayse Dam is an earth dam located in Lamar County, Texas, built in 1967. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About Pat Mayse Dam
The primary purpose of Pat Mayse 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 Usace - Tulsa District (federal). It impounds the Sanders Creek near Chicota.
The dam stands 96 feet tall and stretches 7,080 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 5,993 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 457,800 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 175 square miles. Completed in 1967, 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. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 01/12/2022.
At 96 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 | Lamar |
| Nearest City | Chicota |
| River/Stream | Sanders Creek |
| Coordinates | 33.85333, -95.54833 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 96 ft |
| Dam Height | 96 ft |
| Dam Length | 7,080 ft |
| Year Completed | 1967 (59 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 457,800 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 457,800 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 189,100 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 5,993 acres |
| Drainage Area | 175 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 4,450 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | USACE - Tulsa District |
| Owner Type | Federal |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not Available |
| Last Inspection | 01/12/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | TX04359 |
| Federal ID | TX04359 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |