Lake Houston Dam

Feel the force of the water against the Lake Houston Dam. This impressive structure isn’t just a dam it’s a vital lifeline for millions. Lake Houston Dam’s story begins in November 1951. Construction started then. It was completed two years later in December 1953. The Ambursen Engineering Company designed this magnificent structure. Elmer Gardner Construction Company and Swope Brothers were the general contractors. The deliberate impoundment of water started on April 9 1954. Imagine the scale of this undertaking. The dam itself is a colossal 3160 feet long. It’s a conventional Ambursen reinforced concrete slab and buttress spillway section. The spillway sits at 41.73 feet above mean sea level. The water flows into a stilling pool. Two compacted earth-fill embankments flank the spillway. These are 4000 and 4600 feet long. The top of the dam reaches an elevation of 60.23 feet above mean sea level. The maximum design water surface is 54.23 feet above mean sea level. Water release is controlled by two impressive tainter gates each measuring 18 by 20.5 feet. These gates are positioned between the earthfill section and the spillway. The reservoir’s main body of water lies between the dam and the confluence of the West and East Forks of the San Jacinto River. Lake Houston Dam is more than just a barrier against water. It’s a symbol of engineering prowess. It’s a source of municipal industrial recreational and agricultural water. It’s a testament to human ingenuity and a crucial part of Houston’s infrastructure. The dam has undergone significant modifications. In 1970 Brown and Root engineered changes for erosion control. Further repairs happened in 1986 and 1987 thanks to Ebasco Engineering and Construction Company and LEM Construction. The Lake Houston Dam isn’t just a dam. It’s a story written in concrete and water a story of progress and resilience a story of Houston’s lifeline.