Sanderson Canyon Ws Scs Site 3 Dam is an earth dam located in Pecos County, Texas, built in 1985. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 53 ft53 ft tall and 3,265 ft long, taller than 93% of U.S. dams with a recorded height. Height is drawn to scale against a ten-story building, about 100 ft; the profile is a generic embankment section and the water level is illustrative.
About Sanderson Canyon Ws Scs Site 3 Dam
The primary purpose of Sanderson Canyon Ws Scs Site 3 Dam is flood risk reduction. The dam is designed to control downstream flooding by temporarily storing excess water during storms and releasing it at a controlled rate. The dam is owned by Big Bend Swcd;brewster County;pecos County;rio Grande-pecos River Swcd;terrell County;trans Pecos Swcd (local government). It impounds the Tr-sanderson Canyon near Sanderson.
The dam stands 53 feet tall and stretches 3,265 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 32 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 3,222 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 7 square miles. Completed in 1985, the structure is 41 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 satisfactory, indicating no existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 01/22/2020.
At 53 feet, this dam is taller than 93% 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 | Pecos |
| Nearest City | Sanderson |
| River/Stream | Tr-sanderson Canyon |
| Coordinates | 30.14320, -102.62450 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 53 ft |
| Dam Height | 42 ft |
| Dam Length | 3,265 ft |
| Year Completed | 1985 (41 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 3,222 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 3,222 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 148 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 32 acres |
| Drainage Area | 7 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 10,422 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | Big Bend Swcd;brewster County;pecos County;rio Grande-pecos River Swcd;terrell County;trans Pecos Swcd |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 01/22/2020 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | TX06781 |
| Federal ID | TX06781 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |