How about a little trip back in time at Mountain Creek Dam? This impressive structure holds more stories than you might think. Mountain Creek Dam is an earthen embankment dam. It is located on Mountain Creek in Dallas.
Construction of Mountain Creek Dam began in 1929. It finally wrapped up in early 1937. Water impoundment started then. The dam was primarily built for other purposes. It also serves for benefits.
Originally, Mountain Creek Lake was intended to cool an electric generating plant. The Dallas Power and Light Company needed a reliable water source. Mountain Creek seemed perfect. The lake is located about eight miles southwest of downtown Dallas.
The original permit suggested a capacity of 40000 acre-feet. Heavy siltation reduced the capacity to 22840 acre-feet by 1992. Mountain Creek drains an area of 295 square miles. That is quite a large area.
The dam itself is an impressive rolled-earth structure. It stretches 8200 feet long. Its height reaches 47 feet. That makes it quite substantial.
The outflow is controlled by six Tainter gates over the concrete spillway. Each gate is 34 feet wide and 27 feet tall. The spillway ensures the dam can handle significant rainfall.
Now here is something interesting. The lake has faced its share of environmental challenges. In 1996, a ban was issued on keeping or eating fish. This was due to high contamination levels of PCBs and other toxic chemicals. The contaminants came from the Dallas Naval Air Station and industrial facilities.
The ban was lifted in 2010. However, the TDSHS still advised against consuming fish from the lake. But here is a bit of good news. In 2017, White Crappie were deemed safe to eat in limited amounts.
Mountain Creek Lake Park sits on the lake’s southeastern and southwestern edges. It offers a place to enjoy the scenery. While camping is not allowed in the two city parks, it is still a beautiful place to visit.
Over the years, Mountain Creek Dam has been operated by different entities. It was initially owned by Texas Utilities Electric Company. Today, it is owned by Constellation Texas Power Services LLC.
Mountain Creek Dam is more than just a dam. It is a testament to engineering. It also highlights the importance of environmental stewardship. Next time you are near Mountain Creek Dam, take a moment. Remember the stories it holds. Think about its impact on Dallas. It is a vital part of this city’s history.