Canyon Lake Dam, located in New Braunfels, Texas, is a critical infrastructure owned and operated by the US Army Corps of Engineers for flood risk reduction along the Guadalupe River. Completed in 1964, the earth dam stands at 224 feet high and has a storage capacity of 1,208,350 acre-feet. While the dam has historically performed well during extreme flood events, a risk assessment conducted in 2020 identified the potential for significant downstream flooding in communities like New Braunfels and Seguin if the dam were to fail or be overtopped.

To mitigate the risks associated with the dam, the USACE Fort Worth District has implemented various measures, including working with local emergency managers to develop evacuation plans, updating the Emergency Action Plan, and conducting emergency exercises with response teams. The district also regularly inspects and monitors the dam, conducts maintenance and repairs as needed, and implements interim risk reduction measures such as stockpiling materials to prevent overtopping. Despite these efforts, the possibility of significant loss of life and economic damages remains in the event of a dam breach, underscoring the importance of ongoing risk management and preparedness efforts for the safety of downstream communities.