DETAILS The Lake Houston Dam Spillway Improvement Project is a Localized Flood Risk Reduction Project along the San Jacinto River on Lake Houston. The project, construction of 11 tainter gates, will increase controlled flow releases from the reservoir behind the Lake Houston Dam during flood events to reduce the risk of localized flooding to residential and commercial communities immediately adjacent to and upstream of Lake Houston. The lake also serves as the primary drinking water reservoir for the surrounding communities of Houston, Baytown, Deer Park, and Harris and Fort Bend Counties.
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General Project Information
What is the purpose of this project? The new gate structure will be the first phase of an ultimate improvement to the 70-year-old dam thereby extending the life of the dam in lieu of constructing a new facility. The gates will be sized to permit rapid lowering of the lake in advance of a forecasted flood, thereby eliminating the current operational lowering of both Lake Houston and Lake Conroe.
How long is this project going to take to complete? 36 months (1095 calendar days). Construction is scheduled to begin in Spring 2026 and is anticipated to be completed in Fall 2028. The project schedule depends upon weather conditions.
DETAILS The Lake Houston Dam Spillway Improvement Project is a Localized Flood Risk Reduction Project along the San Jacinto River on Lake Houston. The project, construction of 11 tainter gates, will increase controlled flow releases from the reservoir behind the Lake Houston Dam during flood events to reduce the risk of localized flooding to residential and commercial communities immediately adjacent to and upstream of Lake Houston. The lake also serves as the primary drinking water reservoir for the surrounding communities of Houston, Baytown, Deer Park, and Harris and Fort Bend Counties.
MAP
General Project Information
What is the purpose of this project? The new gate structure will be the first phase of an ultimate improvement to the 70-year-old dam thereby extending the life of the dam in lieu of constructing a new facility. The gates will be sized to permit rapid lowering of the lake in advance of a forecasted flood, thereby eliminating the current operational lowering of both Lake Houston and Lake Conroe.
How long is this project going to take to complete? 36 months (1095 calendar days). Construction is scheduled to begin in Spring 2026 and is anticipated to be completed in Fall 2028. The project schedule depends upon weather conditions.
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An engineering firm has been contracted to perform Preliminary Conceptual Engineering, which includes a Preliminary Engineering Report for a gated control structure. The final design is pending FEMA approval of the revised project budget.