Richland Creek Dam
Richland Creek Dam is an earth dam located in Freestone County, Texas, built in 1987. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About Richland Creek Dam
The primary purpose of Richland 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 Tarrant Regional Water District (state). It impounds the Richland Creek.
The dam stands 96 feet tall and stretches 30,900 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 43,874 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 1,686,587 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 1,957 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 07/19/2023.
At 96 feet, this dam is taller than 98% of all dams in the United States.
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 | Freestone |
| River/Stream | Richland Creek |
| Coordinates | 31.96772, -96.09322 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 96 ft |
| Dam Height | 96 ft |
| Dam Length | 30,900 ft |
| Year Completed | 1987 (39 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 1,686,587 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 1,686,587 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 1,125,199 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 43,874 acres |
| Drainage Area | 1,957 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 456,913 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Controlled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | TARRANT REGIONAL WATER DISTRICT |
| Owner Type | State |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not Rated |
| Last Inspection | 07/19/2023 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | TX06316 |
| Federal ID | TX06316 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |