Dam Safety

Repairs under way at Lake Livingston Dam to address erosion caused by high-impact flows

Repairs under way at Lake Livingston Dam to address erosion caused by high-impact flows
(photo courtesy Trinity River Authority)

Lake Livingston Dam in Texas is undergoing repairs after it was damaged by recent heavy rainfall, with areas of the dam experiencing erosion caused by high-impact flows.

Lake Livingston is the largest single-purpose reservoir in Texas at 83,000 surface acres. The dam, constructed across the Trinity River about 7 miles southwest of Livingston, is 2.5 miles long and is the only dam on the main stem of the river. Lake Livingston has no flood control or flood storage capacity — flow through the dam is controlled by 12 tainter gates in a concrete and steel spillway. Lake Livingston has a normal pool elevation of 131 feet above mean sea level and supplies water to four surrounding counties, plus the city of Houston.

The Trinity River Authority (TRA) said crews and material suppliers are working around-the-clock to ensure that the dam can handle potential storm flow releases. Additionally, the situation is under 24-hour observation and monitoring. On July 6, TRA said initial mitigation efforts at the dam would be complete by the afternoon of July 8, before rainfall associated with Tropical Storm Beryl. The dam will be able to pass high-flow events without impacting the integrity of the dam, TRA said.

The damage was more visible after the rains receded, and the level of the lake will be lowered to assist in the repairs. TRA said that, as soon as conditions allow, the lake may be lowered by as much as 3 feet to facilitate repairs over a two- to three-week period.

The dam, which was completed in 1969 and filled in 1971, is in no immediate danger of failure or a breach, TRA said. The day-to-day operation of the dam will continue as necessary, and gate operations may vary as conditions and construction activities dictate.

TRA said it is working closely with local emergency management to provide them with information to make decisions related to the communities that they serve.

The declaration of a “potential failure watch” was still in place as of June 2, TRA reported.

TRA and the East Texas Electric Cooperative broke ground on May 27, 2015, on the 24 MW R.C. Thomas Hydroelectric Project at the dam. The project, which was dedicated on Nov. 12, 2021, was developed in cooperation with TRA and the city of Houston. Hydroelectric power is generated using run-of-the-river flows and releases to meet downstream commitments through the dam. The plant will generate, on average, about 124 million kWh of electricity per year.