“Hold on tight to your hats folks.” Today we are at the Tom Miller Dam. It is more than just concrete and steel. It is a testament to Austin’s resilience. It is a story etched in water and time.
The Tom Miller Dam stands on the Colorado River. It lies within Austin’s city limits. This is not the first dam at this location. Two previous dams named Austin Dam stood here. Major floods destroyed them both.
This dam creates Lake Austin. Lake Austin is one of the Texas Highland Lakes. The city of Austin built the Tom Miller Dam. They wanted flood control and hydroelectric power. The Public Works Administration helped with funds.
Robert Thomas Miller was a former Mayor of Austin. The dam is named after him. Construction began on July 5, 1938. It finished in 1939. Power generation started on March 31, 1940.
The Tom Miller Dam stretches 1,590 feet long. It rises to a height of 85 feet. The dam features a gravity overflow section. There is also a rebuilt hollow dam with a gated spillway. You can also find a powerhouse here. Sections of earth and rockfill add to its structure.
Lake Austin covers 1,589 acres. It stores 24,644 acre-feet of water. The area above the Tom Miller Dam spans 38,240 square miles.
Today the Lower Colorado River Authority operates the Tom Miller Dam. The dam still serves its original purposes. It manages flood control. It also generates hydroelectric power. Lake Austin is a popular spot for recreation. You can boat, fish, and enjoy the water here.
Tom Miller Dam has ten spillway gates. They regulate water flow into Lake Austin. Lake Austin reaches a maximum depth of 75 feet. It teems with fish like bass, catfish, and sunfish.
Interestingly, the Tom Miller Dam also has a unique memorial. It is for Stevie Ray Vaughan. He was a famous blues guitarist from Austin. Vaughan often played concerts by Lake Austin. A statue stands on a hill near the dam. It depicts Vaughan playing his guitar.
So, the Tom Miller Dam is both practical and a place of recreation. It is a place to remember a local music legend. The Tom Miller Dam is an integral part of Austin. It represents both its history and its present. A structure of strength. A body of recreation. A place of remembrance.