Smith Lake Dam
Smith Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Bastrop County, Texas, built in 1957. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About Smith Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Smith Lake Dam is irrigation. The dam stores and diverts water for agricultural irrigation, supporting farming operations in the surrounding area. The dam is owned by Harold Smith (private). It impounds the Big Sandy Creek near Elgin.
The dam stands 19 feet tall and stretches 650 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 23 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 259 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 square miles. Completed in 1957, 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 poor, meaning the dam has recognized safety deficiencies that require remediation to address risks. Notably, no emergency action plan is currently on file for this high-hazard dam. The most recent inspection on record was 06/14/2023.
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 | Bastrop |
| Nearest City | Elgin |
| River/Stream | Big Sandy Creek |
| Coordinates | 30.31067, -97.27625 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 19 ft |
| Dam Height | 19 ft |
| Dam Length | 650 ft |
| Year Completed | 1957 (69 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 259 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 259 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 120 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 23 acres |
| Drainage Area | 0 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 1 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Irrigation |
| Owner | HAROLD SMITH |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 06/14/2023 |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | TX05712 |
| Federal ID | TX05712 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |