Mercedes District Settling Basin Dam
Mercedes District Settling Basin Dam is an earth dam located in Hidalgo County, Texas, built in 1907. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About Mercedes District Settling Basin Dam
The primary purpose of Mercedes District Settling Basin Dam is irrigation. The dam stores and diverts water for agricultural irrigation, supporting farming operations in the surrounding area. The dam is owned by Hidalgo & Cameron Counties Irrigation District 9 (private). It impounds the Off Ch-rio Grande.
The dam stands 10 feet tall and stretches 24,603 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 700 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 8,610 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 1 square miles. Completed in 1907, 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. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 04/02/2019. That was 7 years ago, which is on the longer end for a high-hazard structure.
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 | Hidalgo |
| River/Stream | Off Ch-rio Grande |
| Coordinates | 26.06500, -97.89333 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 10 ft |
| Dam Height | 10 ft |
| Dam Length | 24,603 ft |
| Year Completed | 1907 (119 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 8,610 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 8,610 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 4,200 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 700 acres |
| Drainage Area | 1 sq mi |
| Spillway Type | None |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Irrigation |
| Owner | HIDALGO & CAMERON COUNTIES IRRIGATION DISTRICT 9 |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not Rated |
| Last Inspection | 04/02/2019 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | TX04789 |
| Federal ID | TX04789 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |