Corps of Engineers to provide Addicks and Barker Dam Safety Program update

Photo By Lt.Cmdr. Sandra Arnold | Addicks and Barker reservoirs are located near the intersection of I-10 and State Highway 6, in an area considered to be in the upper watershed of Buffalo Bayou. They provide flood damage reduction along Buffalo Bayou downstream of the reservoirs and through the center of the City of Houston.  

GALVESTON, TX, UNITED STATES

10.20.2014

Story by Sandra Arnold 

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Galveston District

HOUSTON – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Galveston District will hold a public meeting Oct. 29, 2014, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Bear Creek Community Center, 16001 Clay Road, Houston, TX 77084, to update area residents and business owners about the Addicks and Barker Dam Safety Program and the 2015 Addicks and Barker construction plans.

This is a continued communication initiative following the Addicks and Barker Dam Safety Program public outreach in February and November 2010.

“The primary objective of the Dam Safety Program is to maintain public safety by ensuring that dams we own and operate are safe and that risks to the public are minimized,” said Col. Richard P. Pannell, Galveston District commander. “It is important to keep those who live and work around Addicks and Barker dams and reservoirs informed.”

The Corps implemented interim risk reduction measures to reduce risks and increase safety of the dams. In addition to the interim solutions, a Dam Safety Modification Study was completed and will be presented at the meetings. The study includes a comprehensive look at concerns associated with the dams.

“First and foremost, these dams are not in danger of failing,” Pannell said. “Addicks and Barker are dry reservoirs about 90 percent of the time, and they undergo daily, weekly and annual inspections and monitoring. While the likelihood of overtopping or failure is very low, the fact the dams protect the nation’s fourth largest metropolitan area makes the consequences to life safety relatively high risk.”

The public meeting will begin at 6:30 p.m. and Corps representatives will be available to answer questions immediately following the presentation as well as provide comments in writing.

“Addicks and Barker dams, which were constructed in the 1940s to protect downtown Houston from flooding in response to devastating floods that hit Houston earlier in the century, have been protecting the Houston metropolitan area for nearly 70 years,” said Pannell. “We’ll continue to work with our local flood control and emergency management partners to ensure that the structures function as intended.”

For those who are unable to participate in the public meeting but wish to provide feedback, log on to https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/SR6QZR3. Keep apprised of construction updates at http://geospatial.swf.usace.army.mil/AddicksBarker2/index.html.

For additional information about the Addicks and Barker Dam Safety Program, please visit www.swg.usace.army.mil; email [e-mail] or call 409-766-3004 or find us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GalvestonDistrict.

• Date Taken: 10.20.2014
• Date Posted: 10.20.2014 10:25
• Story ID: 145474
• Location: GALVESTON, TX, US