Upper San Marcos River WS SCS Site 4

PURGATORY CREEK· Hays, Texas· Earth· 99 ft tall
High Hazard Flood Risk Reduction Local Government

Key Takeaway

Upper San Marcos River WS SCS Site 4 is classified as high hazard in Texas. Its primary use is flood risk reduction. High hazard means loss of life is likely if the dam fails — it does not indicate the dam's current condition. Learn more.

Physical Details

Dam Height 99 ft (taller than 99.3% in TX)
Dam Length977 ft
Dam TypeEarth
Max Storage8.4K acre-ft
Normal Storage183 acre-ft
Surface Area19 acres
Drainage Area20 sq mi
Max Discharge60,214 cfs
NID IDTX06329

Safety Information

High Hazard

Loss of human life is likely if the dam fails.

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

Emergency Action Plan: Yes
Last Inspection: October 13, 2020
State Regulated: Yes
Regulatory Agency: TCEQ

Ownership

CITY OF SAN MARCOS;HAYS COUNTY;HAYS COUNTY SWCD;UPPER SAN MARCOS WS RECL FCD

Local Government

Nearby Dams

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the hazard classification of Upper San Marcos River WS SCS Site 4?

Upper San Marcos River WS SCS Site 4 is classified as High Hazard. Loss of human life is likely if the dam fails. This classification refers to the potential downstream consequences of a failure, not the dam's current structural condition.

Who owns and operates Upper San Marcos River WS SCS Site 4?

Upper San Marcos River WS SCS Site 4 is owned by CITY OF SAN MARCOS;HAYS COUNTY;HAYS COUNTY SWCD;UPPER SAN MARCOS WS RECL FCD (Local Government). The owner is responsible for maintenance, inspections, and compliance with dam safety regulations.

What is the primary purpose of Upper San Marcos River WS SCS Site 4?

Upper San Marcos River WS SCS Site 4 serves the following purposes: Flood Risk Reduction. Many dams in the U.S. are multi-purpose, supporting flood control, water supply, recreation, and other uses.

How tall is Upper San Marcos River WS SCS Site 4?

Upper San Marcos River WS SCS Site 4 has a dam height of 99 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.

When was Upper San Marcos River WS SCS Site 4 last inspected?

Upper San Marcos River WS SCS Site 4 was last inspected on October 13, 2020. Inspection dates indicate when a formal review occurred, not the results of that inspection.

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.