Big Sandy Creek WS SCS Site 5b Dam

MIDDLE FORK PRAIRIE BRANCH· Montague, Texas· Built 1966· Earth· 29 ft tall

Key Takeaway

Big Sandy Creek WS SCS Site 5b Dam is classified as low hazard in Texas. It was completed in 1966 and is 60 years old. Its primary use is flood risk reduction.

Physical Details

Dam Height 29 ft (taller than 64.3% in TX)
Dam Length1,100 ft
Dam TypeEarth
Max Storage1.4K acre-ft
Normal Storage68 acre-ft
Surface Area20 acres
Drainage Area3 sq mi
Year Completed1966 (60 years old)
NID IDTX00769

Safety Information

Low Hazard

No probable loss of human life and low economic/environmental losses expected.

Hazard potential describes downstream consequences of failure, not the dam's current condition. What does this mean?

Emergency Action Plan: No
State Regulated: Yes
Regulatory Agency: TCEQ

Ownership

MONTAGUE COUNTY;TARRANT REGIONAL WATER DISTRICT;UPPER ELM RED SWCD

State Government

Nearby Dams

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the hazard classification of Big Sandy Creek WS SCS Site 5b Dam?

Big Sandy Creek WS SCS Site 5b Dam is classified as Low Hazard. No probable loss of human life and low economic/environmental losses expected. This classification refers to the potential downstream consequences of a failure, not the dam's current structural condition.

Who owns and operates Big Sandy Creek WS SCS Site 5b Dam?

Big Sandy Creek WS SCS Site 5b Dam is owned by MONTAGUE COUNTY;TARRANT REGIONAL WATER DISTRICT;UPPER ELM RED SWCD (State Government). The owner is responsible for maintenance, inspections, and compliance with dam safety regulations.

When was Big Sandy Creek WS SCS Site 5b Dam built?

Big Sandy Creek WS SCS Site 5b Dam was completed in 1966, making it 60 years old. Many U.S. dams were built between the 1930s and 1970s during a period of major infrastructure investment.

What is the primary purpose of Big Sandy Creek WS SCS Site 5b Dam?

Big Sandy Creek WS SCS Site 5b Dam serves the following purposes: Flood Risk Reduction, Fire Protection, Stock, Or Small Fish Pond, Irrigation, Debris Control. Many dams in the U.S. are multi-purpose, supporting flood control, water supply, recreation, and other uses.

How tall is Big Sandy Creek WS SCS Site 5b Dam?

Big Sandy Creek WS SCS Site 5b Dam has a dam height of 29 ft. Dam height is measured from the natural streambed at the downstream toe to the top of the dam, and may differ from the visible height.

Data from the National Inventory of Dams (NID) maintained by the US Army Corps of Engineers. Dam conditions may have changed since the last update. This site is not affiliated with USACE. Do not use for emergency planning — contact your local dam safety program.