Ballinger Municipal Lake Dam (Lake Ballinger)

Field Descriptions

Dam Name: Ballinger Municipal Lake Dam
NID ID: TX05952
Longitude: -100.0433
Latitude: 31.7304
County: RUNNELS
River: VALLEY CREEK
State: TX
Nearest City: BALLINGER
Distance: 5.00 miles
Owner Name: CITY OF BALLINGER
Owner Type: Local Government
Dam Designer: HDR
Private Dam? No
Dam Type: Earth
Core: Homogeneous Dam (Position)
Earth (Type)
Known (Certainty)
Foundation: UZ
Purposes: Water Supply
Year Completed: 1985
Dam Length: 6200 feet
Dam Height: 76 feet
Structural Height: 76 feet
Hydraulic Height: 76 feet
Maximum Discharge: 237034 cu ft/sec
Maximum Storage: 34353 acre-feet
Normal Storage: 6050 acre-feet
Surface Area: 560 acres
Drainage Area: 234 square miles
Hazard Potential: High
Emergency Action Plan? Yes
Inspection Date: 2009-10-29
Inspection Frequency: 0
State Regulated Dam? Yes
State Regulating Agency: TCEQ
Spillway Type: Uncontrolled
Spillway Width: 880 feet
Outlet Gates: U4;V1
Volume of Dam: 999090 cubic yards
Source Agency:

Dam Safety For Boats

A large amount of water can be released from a dam without any warning at any time and by any means. For example, when the demand for electricity is high, the turbines at a dam may be turned on automatically, resulting in a significant increase in the downstream flow of water in only a matter of seconds.

If there's a need to release water through the sluiceways (outlets at the base of the dam), this operation can also create a great swell of discharged water downstream.

During flood operations, any or all spillway gates across the width of a dam can be opened to release upstream flood water that needs to pass to the next downstream reservoir. Upstream or downstream, even the most experienced boater with the strongest motor is no match for this strong flow of water plunging over a spillway of a dam. Even if you're boating far downstream of a spilling dam, recirculating current can pull a powerful boat upstream toward plunging water that could shred any boat.

Some dams equipped with navigation locks create turbulent water as well. When vessels pass through, strong flow is released near the exhaust ports of the wing wall of the lock.

Warning Systems At Dams

To warn reservoir users of potential danger, warning devices are installed at many dams:




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