Belton Dam is a rolled earthfill dam on the Leon River, built and operated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The dam controls Lake Belton for flood management, water supply, and recreation.
Belton Dam Profile
Lake Level
-- ft
Inflow
-- cfs
Outflow
-- cfs
Storage
-- ac-ft
Dam Specifications
| Dam length | 5,524 feet (1.05 miles) |
|---|---|
| Dam height | 192 feet |
| Top of dam elevation | 662 ft MSL |
| Spillway crest | 631 ft MSL |
| Conservation pool | 594 ft MSL |
| Spillway width | 1,300 feet |
| Max spillway discharge | 472,500 cfs |
| Construction type | Rolled earthfill |
| Drainage area | 3,560 square miles |
Source: USACE Belton Lake
Reservoir Capacity
| Surface area (at conservation pool) | 12,300 acres |
|---|---|
| Normal storage | 457,600 acre-feet |
| Maximum storage | 1,876,700 acre-feet |
| Shoreline length | 136 miles |
| Maximum depth | 124 feet |
| Mean depth | 37 feet |
History
- 1946 Project authorized by Flood Control Act (July 24)
- 1949 Construction begins (January)
- 1954 Dam completed; deliberate impoundment begins March 8 at initial pool elevation of 569 ft MSL. Total cost: $17.2 million
- 1972 Conservation pool raised to current level of 594 ft MSL (May 1), following completion of Proctor Lake upstream
- 1978 Record low: 582.78 ft MSL (December 27)
- 1992 Record high: 634.36 ft MSL (March 6)
Source: USACE, Texas State Historical Association
Flood Control Operations
Belton Dam works with four other dams on the Little River system: Proctor Dam, Stillhouse Hollow Dam, Granger Dam, and North San Gabriel Dam. Together they control flooding at the Little River Gage at Cameron, Texas.
Belton Dam operates jointly with Proctor Dam (upstream on the Leon River) for Leon River flood control. Water above the 594-foot conservation pool is stored temporarily for flood management and released when downstream conditions allow.