Pelaez Lake Dam
Pelaez Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Bandera County, Texas, built in 1956. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Pelaez Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Pelaez Lake 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 Jim Ahern (private). It impounds the Evans Creek.
The dam stands 27 feet tall and stretches 320 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 3 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 150 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 3 square miles. Completed in 1956, 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. 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 03/24/2021.
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 |
| River/Stream | Evans Creek |
| Coordinates | 29.76341, -99.53182 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 27 ft |
| Dam Height | 27 ft |
| Dam Length | 320 ft |
| Year Completed | 1956 (70 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 150 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 150 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 66 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 3 acres |
| Drainage Area | 3 sq mi |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | JIM AHERN |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 03/24/2021 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | TX04801 |
| Federal ID | TX04801 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |