Paradise Valley Ranch Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Van Zandt County, Texas, built in 2003. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 28 ft28 ft tall and 1,490 ft long, taller than 62% of U.S. dams with a recorded height. Height is drawn to scale against a two-story house, about 25 ft; the profile is a generic embankment section and the water level is illustrative.
About Paradise Valley Ranch Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Paradise Valley Ranch Lake Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by The Florida Company (private). It impounds the Cow Creek.
The dam stands 28 feet tall and stretches 1,490 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 41 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 769 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 1 square miles. Completed in 2003, the structure is relatively new.
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 fair — the dam has minor deficiencies that are being addressed or do not pose an immediate safety threat. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 09/16/2019. That was 7 years ago, which is on the longer end for a high-hazard structure.
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 | Van Zandt |
| River/Stream | Cow Creek |
| Coordinates | 32.36940, -95.58826 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 28 ft |
| Dam Height | 28 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,490 ft |
| Year Completed | 2003 (23 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 769 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 769 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 367 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 41 acres |
| Drainage Area | 1 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 2,039 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | The Florida Company |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 09/16/2019 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | TX07149 |
| Federal ID | TX07149 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |