Dawson Lake Dam
Dawson Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Walker County, Texas, built in 1970. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About Dawson Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Dawson Lake 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 City Of Huntsville (local government). It impounds the Tr-mcdonald Creek near Huntsville.
The dam stands 21 feet tall and stretches 575 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 9 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 99 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 square miles. Completed in 1970, 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. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 06/04/2024.
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 | Walker |
| Nearest City | Huntsville |
| River/Stream | Tr-mcdonald Creek |
| Coordinates | 30.68282, -95.55635 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 21 ft |
| Dam Height | 21 ft |
| Dam Length | 575 ft |
| Year Completed | 1970 (56 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 99 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 99 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 72 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 9 acres |
| Drainage Area | 0 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 970 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | CITY OF HUNTSVILLE |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 06/04/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | TX07086 |
| Federal ID | TX07086 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |