The History of Austin Dam

Austin Dam (Tom Miller Dam) is located on the Colorado River in Austin, Texas. The dam forms Lake Austin, a recreational and water supply centerpiece for the City, and is operated and maintained by the Lower Colorado River Authority. The history of the dam could well be described as “The construction, failure, reconstruction, second failure, and final re-construction of Austin Dam.” This paper discusses the two failures and the lessons learned from each of them. Of particular importance is the impact of cutting corners during design and construction upon the stability and safety of a dam from a case history perspective. 7 pp., 4 references.