Lake Houston Levels Lowered A Foot For $10M Dam Rehab Project

LAKE HOUSTON — Plans are underway to rehabilitate and repair sections of the Lake Houston Spillway Dam after lake levels were gradually lowered a foot over the span of a week, City of Houston officials announced.

Houston Public Works lowered Lake Houston by six inches on May 20, and lowered levels another six inches on May 28 to allow contractors to begin a critical $10 million rehabilitation project.

Houston City Councilman Dave Martin, who represents lake Houston, Kingwood and Clear Lake on the city council, said the levels would remain in place through the fall of 2020.

The Lake Houston Spillway Dam Rehabilitation Project is projected to increase dam stability through the installation of a new reinforced concrete training wall, and will involve the partial demolition of a splitter wall, which breaks up the flow of water over the spillway.

Martin said property owners along Lake Houston should be prepared for varying levels on Lake Houston through the fall of 2020, with depth no greater than 41.5 feet in an effort to minimize disruption of the project.

"During the time of this project recreational activities will be disrupted and boaters are urged to use extreme caution on the lake due to lower levels as well as increased instances of exposed debris," Martin said in a press release.

Martin said the $10 million project is funded by Coastal Water Authority's (CWA) Special Equity funds, designated specifically for City of Houston infrastructure improvements, noting that no funds from the City of Houston budget are being used on this project.

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