Shadow Dance Ranch Dam is an earth dam located in Bandera County, Texas, built in 1978. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 35 ft35 ft tall and 850 ft long, taller than 80% of U.S. dams with a recorded height. Height is drawn to scale against a two-story house, about 25 ft; the profile is a generic embankment section and the water level is illustrative.
About Shadow Dance Ranch Dam
The primary purpose of Shadow Dance Ranch Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Jack Wheeler (private). It impounds the Ryle Creek near Tarpley.
The dam stands 35 feet tall and stretches 850 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 18 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 377 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 3 square miles. Completed in 1978, the structure is 48 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 06/27/2024.
At 35 feet, this dam is taller than 80% 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.
Search for dams near your address to see all dams in your area with hazard classifications and safety data.
Location
| State | Texas |
| County | Bandera |
| Nearest City | Tarpley |
| River/Stream | Ryle Creek |
| Coordinates | 29.71847, -99.31981 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 35 ft |
| Dam Height | 35 ft |
| Dam Length | 850 ft |
| Year Completed | 1978 (48 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 377 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 377 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 153 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 18 acres |
| Drainage Area | 3 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 1 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Jack Wheeler |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 06/27/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | TX04790 |
| Federal ID | TX04790 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |