Permian Basin Dam
Permian Basin Dam is an earth dam located in Ward County, Texas, built in 1972. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Permian Basin Dam
Permian Basin Dam is a dam in Ward, Texas. The dam is owned by Luminant Generation Company Llc (private). It impounds the Monument Draw.
The dam stands 32 feet tall and stretches 2,250 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 30 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 733 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 3 square miles. Completed in 1972, 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. Notably, no emergency action plan is currently on file for this high-hazard dam. The most recent inspection on record was 07/25/2023.
At 32 feet, this dam is taller than 76% 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 | Ward |
| River/Stream | Monument Draw |
| Coordinates | 31.57833, -103.09833 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 32 ft |
| Dam Height | 32 ft |
| Dam Length | 2,250 ft |
| Year Completed | 1972 (54 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 733 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 733 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 181 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 30 acres |
| Drainage Area | 3 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 2 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Other |
| Owner | LUMINANT GENERATION COMPANY LLC |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 07/25/2023 |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | TX05143 |
| Federal ID | TX05143 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |