In response to the recent severe flooding along the Trinity River, officials from the Trinity River Authority (TRA) have released a video statement aimed at addressing the concerns of residents regarding water release decisions.
The statement features insights from three key officials: Kevin Ward, General Manager of TRA; Chad Holton, Project Manager at Lake Livingston; and Rick Davis, Assistant Project Manager of Operations at Lake Livingston Dam.
While expressing deep sympathy for those affected by the flooding and highlighted the unprecedented rainfall and storms that have led to significantly increased water levels in the Trinity River Basin, Ward clarified that Lake Livingston, operated by TRA, serves as a drinking water source for the City of Houston and a number of other local governments and communities, and is not designed for flood control. The dam operates continuously with coordination from local emergency management services.
“The recent rainfall has significantly increased water levels in rivers and reservoirs across Texas, leading to widespread flooding. In the Trinity River Basin, historic rainfall surrounding Lake Livingston, combined with heavy storms in North Texas, have brought an unprecedented amount of water to the Trinity River and Lake Livingston. Grounds saturated from heavy rainfall are struggling to soak in any more water while swollen streams have cut through neighborhoods and displaced thousands,” Ward said.
TRA, which owns and operates Lake Livingston and the dam, strives to be transparent about the operations at the dam, he added.
“Operating the lake and dam 365 days a year, 24 hours a day during heavy rains and drought conditions, takes skilled men and women, and we continuously coordinate with local emergency management services. The operation of the dam relies on approved gate operating procedures, safety, and a balancing of the lake’s purpose, as well as where the rain falls, how fast it falls, and how long a rain event lasts,” Ward said.
Holton addressed questions about pre-releasing water from the reservoir, explaining that Lake Livingston was built as a water conservation reservoir, not for flood control. He noted the unpredictability of weather forecasts and potential downstream flooding issues. Holton explained that during high flow events, the team monitors and adjusts water levels to maintain the reservoir at 131 feet above mean sea level.
He pointed to Tropical Storm Imelda as a perfect example of rainfall predictions being inaccurate or underestimated.
“They projected that system really to move north of the dam and rain quite a bit right on top of the reservoir when in fact, most all the rain fell below the dam at the reservoir. And so, in that scenario, just like I said, we would have aggravated situations downstream versus here at the lake,” Holton said.
Davis stated that the dam’s gate operating procedures do not change during major floods. The team increases monitoring and coordinates with county emergency management officials. TRA does not issue evacuation orders; this responsibility lies with local officials.
“Our standard procedures during a high flow event include increased monitoring of the dam, the spillway, and the embankment. Just for any anomalies or slides or anything we might notice that seems out of place, we do increase our instrument readings as well as our visual inspections of the entire dam system here at Lake Livingston in any kind of high flow or flood event,” he added.
Kevin Ward concluded the video by reaffirming TRA’s approach to operating the dam to the best of its ability amidst the ongoing heavy rains. He encouraged residents to comment on the YouTube video linked below with any additional questions.
To see the full video, click here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P7w4roe87dQ
Sounds like they might need to review and up date there procedures.
John they don’t care because no on will hold them accountable.
For what? Livingston is not a flood control lake. Just like most of the lakes in Texas. Flooding happens, it sucks for sure, but like stated if they let water out In accordance with the forecast and the Forcast is wrong, and they just created a flood event, then they will still be getting bitched at. It’s a double edge sword. We live in lowland areas. They flood when it rains for days.
I understand that the salt water gates are Not open in Chambers County and that’s what’s holding the water in here , just because Livingston is not a flood control dam it doesn’t give them the right to Destroy Lives and livelihoods!!!
Everyone knows why this is and the ones that have made it happen could care less is it going to be fixed no so everyone that has been effected from flood and lost everything and why because they didn’t give two shits of the lives of the well beging of animals and human lives knowing u dont have control of mother nature and will never but to know that yall built a dam with flood control that’s insane and yall that built should have to reimburse the ones at lost everything fema should not have to fix what yall destroyed due to lack of knowing and not giving a shit and the ones that agreed to dam no longer should be able to make any decisions on anything and should be held reliable of lives of humans and animals of what we lost
Now look at them!
The dam better change their “hard core” stance on trying to make as much money as possible. They not only destroyed Liberty and everything in the path, but now we’re finding out they even destroyed themselves.