Lake Livingston Update

Trinity River Authority Curtails Release from Lake Livingston Dam


Livingston, Texas-The Trinity River Authority has decreased water releases from Lake Livingston to 10,000 cubic feet per second down from 20,000 CFS yesterday.  Releases are expected to further decrease to 1,000 CFS later today.

TRA began releasing water from Lake Livingston on Saturday, September 24, 2005 to lower the lake’s water level after the dam’s earthen embankment was damaged by sustained high winds and wave action brought on by Hurricane Rita. 

TRA released 79,200 cubic feet per second on Saturday and Sunday which caused flooding in low-lying areas downstream from the dam.  On Monday, releases were decreased to 20,000 cubic feet per second.

The lower lake level will eliminate any further erosion and allow TRA’s engineers to make a thorough assessment of the damage caused by the wind and waves and develop a remediation plan.  The lake level will be lowered to 127 feet above mean sea level until repairs are complete.

Lake Livingston Dam is a 2.5 mile earthen embankment with 12 tainter gates for releasing water.  The earthen embankment is protected from water erosion by rip rap, large 32 inch diameter stones, on the lake side of the dam. 

The high winds and significant wave action brought by Hurricane Rita damaged the dam’s earthen embankment eroding approximately 11,000 feet of the rip rap on the lake side of the dam, and exposing part of the earthen embankment.  Some erosion to the earthen embankment has also occurred.

After a thorough inspection, Lake Livingston Dam has been declared stable by a dam inspector from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.

Built, owned and operated by the Trinity River Authority of Texas (TRA), Lake Livingston is the largest lake constructed solely for water supply purposes located totally within the State of Texas. The lake covers approximately 83,000 surface acres, with a normal pool elevation of 131 feet above mean sea level. The Livingston Dam, constructed across the Trinity River approximately seven miles southwest of the city of Livingston, is 2½ miles in length and has an average height of 55 feet.

For more information contact John Jadrosich, (936) 365-2292 or Debbie Bronson, (817) 493-5122