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Hunt County approves application to seek state funds to repair high‑hazard dam at Site 62
Summary
The commissioners approved sponsoring a state grant application to repair Pilot Grove Creek Watershed Site 62, a high‑hazard dam in Marks Precinct, with an estimated repair cost of about $1.9 million and a Sept. 30 application deadline.
Hunt County Commissioners Court on Sept. 23 approved a county‑sponsored application to seek state funding for structural repairs to Pilot Grove Creek Watershed Site 62 in Marks Precinct, a dam the county and conservation partners describe as a high‑hazard structure.
The grant application — to be submitted before a Sept. 30 deadline — seeks funding to repair slides and other failures at Site 62. Sam Stewart, district technician with the Upper Sabine Soil and Water Conservation District, told the court the estimated repair cost is about $1,900,000 and that state appropriations under a conservation‑district repair program are available for the work.
The project matters because engineers and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) reports indicate the dam is failing in places and could cause downstream damage and loss of life if it breaches. “This is Site 62 … this is a high hazard dam that if not repaired, could cause, you know, somebody could lose their life if it breaks,” Stewart said during the meeting.
Stewart and county staff said the dam has experienced repeated slides and beaver undermining that have worsened in recent years. He said the structure is currently at a much lower water level but can refill during heavy rain, and that a major slide in 2019 and again in 2024 prompted the current push for repairs. He also said the county holds TCEQ and dam‑safety engineering reports recommending repair.
Stewart told the court the state engineer’s office indicated the state program could cover 100 percent of the repair cost, but he cautioned that, based on his experience, full coverage is not guaranteed in every case and disputes can arise over scope and incidental damages. Commissioners asked about local funding if the state share fell short; Stewart said any overages would come from the county’s existing operation and maintenance (O&M) account for watershed structures and from funds historically set aside by the county for watershed maintenance.
Court members also discussed downstream impacts. Stewart said he knows of one house in Hunt County within the breach inundation area and several properties in nearby Collin County that would be affected if the dam failed. He added the failure could also damage roads in the area, citing a route near FM 1567 that would be at risk.
The court made a motion, seconded, and approved the county’s sponsorship of the application by voice vote.
County staff and the Soil and Water Conservation District will complete the application and follow the state’s agreement and contracting process if the project is selected.
