Big Creek Dam
Big Creek Dam is an earth dam located in Delta County, Texas, built in 1987. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About Big Creek Dam
The primary purpose of Big Creek 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 City Of Cooper (local government). It impounds the Big Creek.
The dam stands 38 feet tall and stretches 4,350 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 512 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 13,296 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 11 square miles. Completed in 1987, the structure is 39 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. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 06/19/2024.
At 38 feet, this dam is taller than 85% 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 | Delta |
| River/Stream | Big Creek |
| Coordinates | 33.39237, -95.69409 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 38 ft |
| Dam Height | 38 ft |
| Dam Length | 4,350 ft |
| Year Completed | 1987 (39 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 13,296 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 13,296 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 4,625 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 512 acres |
| Drainage Area | 11 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 34,863 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | CITY OF COOPER |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not Rated |
| Last Inspection | 06/19/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | TX06314 |
| Federal ID | TX06314 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |