San Saba Old Water Dam -- Mill Pond Park, San Saba TX
N 31° 11.679 W 098° 42.745
14R E 527398 N 3451209
The water dam at Mill Pond in Mill Pond Park
Waymark Code: WMTTHG
Location: Texas, United States
Date Posted: 01/06/2017
Views: 2
The water dam at Mill Pond Park in San Saba Texas built in the 1870s seventies to harness the power of spring-fed Mill Creek to water the property owner's garden still provides water to this community in 2016 and beyond.
From the city of San Saba's website, some early history of the Mill Pond Park dam, as follows: (
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"In 1875, Guy Risien built a rock and brush dam across Mill Creek to operate a hydraulic dam that he used to water his own garden and provide water to a few neighbors. Most of the original dam still stands. Risien installed a water wheel, a valve and piston pump, and three-inch water mains. Risien also helped the county keep water troughs at the courthouse full. Risien sold his waterworks to John H. Brown, who built a gristmill. Later the city water system housed its machinery there. Mill Pond still provides water to the residents of San Saba.
Today, Mill Pond Park is a lovely park with a spring-fed lake. A waterfall cascades over rocks landscaped with ferns, moss, canna and caladium. The waters then flow under a bridge and wind throughout the park. Seven-million gallons of water pump through the lake daily. Ducks and geese paddle by and the lake’s many tributaries meander throughout the park, past picnic areas, and Pecan Pool, the municipal swimming pool, all beautifully landscaped with native vegetation."