City Implements Release Strategy On Lake Houston Ahead Of Storms

HOUSTON, TX -- Houston City Council Member Dave Martin announced on Monday that the gates on the Lake Houston Spillway Dam are open due to the current inclement weather threat to the Houston area. The gates will remain open until a lake level of 41.5 feet is achieved or the weather threat to our area is lifted.

The City of Houston, post-Harvey, has successfully implemented the pre-release strategy during rain events on Easter, Father's Day, Fourth of July, and Labor Day. Anytime there is a rain event that is forecast to produce a minimum of three inches of rain in the San Jacinto Watershed, the Coastal Water Authority, under the direction of the City of Houston will open the Lake Houston Spillway Gates.

Martin said the gates will remain open during weather threats until the level of Lake Houston reaches 41.5 feet, which is one foot below normal pool elevation of 42.5 feet, or the inclement weather threat for the area is lifted.

The City of Houston and the CWA monitor each incoming weather system around the clock for changes in forecast so that the pre-release strategy can be implemented in a timely manner. Residents may monitor the level of Lake Houston by visiting CWA's website.

The San Jacinto River Authority (SJRA) has completed their seasonal lake lowering of Lake Conroe for the summer. Lake Conroe is now operating at a lake level of 199 feet which is two feet lower than their normal operating level of 201 feet.

This two foot reduction adds additional capacity to Lake Conroe during what has historically been the busiest month of hurricane season. We appreciate these efforts taken by the SJRA to increase storage capacity of their lake. This seasonal lake lowering was implemented in August 2018. The level of Lake Conroe can be observed on the SJRA website.

Additional resources residents can use during inclement weather can be found by visiting the City of Houston's Office of Emergency Management Website as well as the Harris County Flood Warning System's Website.

For more information, please contact the District E office at (832) 393-3008 or via email at districte@houstontx.gov.

(For more news and information like this, subscribe to Patch for free. If you have an iPhone, click here to get the free Patch iPhone app; download the free Patch Android app here.)

Image: Shutterstock

Send your news tips and story ideas to bryan.kirk@patch.com