Bess Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Leon County, Texas, built in 1964. It carries a Low hazard potential classification.
Dam profile
NID height · 35 ft35 ft tall and 600 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 Bess Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Bess 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 Robert Bess (private). It impounds the Willow Creek.
The dam stands 35 feet tall and stretches 600 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 17 acres, and has a maximum storage capacity of 179 acre-feet. Completed in 1964, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 years old.
This dam has a low hazard potential classification, meaning that failure would cause minimal damage, limited primarily to the dam owner's property, with no expected loss of life.
At 35 feet, this dam is taller than 80% of dams nationwide.
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Location
| State | Texas |
| County | Leon |
| River/Stream | Willow Creek |
| Coordinates | 31.51939, -95.89783 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 35 ft |
| Dam Height | 35 ft |
| Dam Length | 600 ft |
| Year Completed | 1964 (62 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 179 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 179 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 117 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 17 acres |
| Spillway Type | None |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | Robert Bess |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Low |
| Condition Assessment | Not assessed |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | TX04928 |
| Federal ID | TX04928 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |