Lavon Dam is located in Collin County, Texas on the East Fork[1] of the Trinity River, about 3 miles east of Wylie and 22 miles northeast of Dallas. It was constructed to create the Lavon Lake and is named after the town of Lavon. Dams are generally named after the closest town near the structure.[2]

Lavon Dam
Aerial view of Lavon Dam
CountryUnited States
LocationCollin County, Texas
Coordinates33°1′57″N 96°28′2″W / 33.03250°N 96.46722°W / 33.03250; -96.46722
StatusIn use
Construction beganJanuary, 1948
Opening dateSeptember, 1953 (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 damRolled earthfill
ImpoundsEast Fork of the Trinity River
Height81 ft (25 m)
Length19,493 ft (5,941 m)
Width (crest)475.5 ft (144.9 m)
Dam volume17,055,000 cu yd (13,039,000 m3)
Spillway typeOgee crest
Spillway capacity1,507,000 cu ft/s (42,700 m3/s)
Reservoir
CreatesLavon Reservoir
Total capacity409,360 acre⋅ft (0.50494 km3)
Surface area20,559 acres (8,320 ha)

History

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Construction on the Lavon Dam began in January, 1948, and was completed in March, 1953. Deliberate impoundment began on September 14, 1953. The cost of the project was $18,554,570. On May 15, 1970, construction began on a modification of Lavon Dam that increased the conservation storage pool from elevation 472.0 feet to the current elevation of 492.0 feet by raising the top of the dam 12 feet. The modification was completed and deliberate impoundment began December 1, 1975. The cost of the modification was $69,796,678, which brought the grand total cost to $88,351,248.[2]

References

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  1. ^ "East Fork Trinity Watershed". United States Environmental Protection Agency. Retrieved 19 Mar 2013.
  2. ^ a b "Lake Information". United States Army Corps of Engineers. Retrieved 29 Mar 2013.
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