Lavon Dam facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lavon Dam |
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Aerial view of Lavon Dam
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| Country | United States |
| Location | Collin County, Texas |
| Coordinates | 33°1′57″N 96°28′2″W / 33.03250°N 96.46722°W |
| Status | In use |
| Construction began | January, 1948 |
| Opening date | September, 1953 |
| Construction cost | $88,351,248.00 |
| Owner(s) | The U.S. government, operated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Fort Worth District |
| Dam and spillways | |
| Type of dam | Rolled earthfill |
| Impounds | East Fork of the Trinity River |
| Height | 81 ft (25 m) |
| Length | 19,493 ft (5,941 m) |
| Width (crest) | 475.5 ft (144.9 m) |
| Dam volume | 17,055,000 cu yd (13,039,000 m3) |
| Spillway type | Ogee crest |
| Spillway capacity | 1,507,000 cu ft/s (42,700 m3/s) |
| Reservoir | |
| Creates | Lavon Reservoir |
| Total capacity | 409,360 acre⋅ft (0.50494 km3) |
| Surface area | 20,559 acres (8,320 ha) |
Lavon Dam is a large structure in Collin County, Texas. It was built across the East Fork of the Trinity River. You can find it about 3 miles east of Wylie. This dam is important because it created Lavon Lake. The dam gets its name from the nearby town of Lavon. It's common for dams to be named after the closest town.
Contents
Building Lavon Dam
Starting the Construction
Work on Lavon Dam began in January 1948. It took several years to build this big project. The main construction was finished in March 1953. After that, water started to fill up behind the dam. This process is called "deliberate impoundment." It began on September 14, 1953. The first part of the dam cost about $18.5 million.
Making the Dam Bigger
Years later, people decided the dam needed to be even bigger. On May 15, 1970, a major upgrade started. The goal was to make the lake hold more water. They raised the top of the dam by 12 feet. This made the lake's "conservation storage pool" much larger. The upgrade was completed by December 1, 1975. After this, the lake could hold a lot more water. This second phase of construction cost about $69.8 million.
Total Cost of the Dam
When you add up both parts of the project, the total cost was about $88.3 million. This shows how much effort and money goes into building such important structures. The dam is managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. They make sure it works properly and safely.
What is a Dam Used For?
Controlling Floods
One of the main jobs of Lavon Dam is to control floods. When there's a lot of rain, rivers can overflow. This can cause damage to homes and farms. The dam holds back extra water in Lavon Lake. This helps protect the areas downstream from flooding.
Providing Water
Lavon Lake is also a very important source of drinking water. Many towns and cities in the area get their water from this lake. The dam helps keep a steady supply of water available for people to use every day.
Fun and Recreation
Besides its practical uses, Lavon Lake is a popular spot for fun activities. People enjoy fishing, boating, and swimming in the lake. There are also parks and camping areas around the lake. These places offer great outdoor experiences for families and friends.
