GALVESTON, Texas - The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Galveston District’s Wallisville Lake Project suspended lock operations today at the salt water barrier navigation lock due to drought conditions.

According the Corps, the recent drought has reduced the river’s natural flow and ability to prevent salt water intrusion upstream making it necessary to close the lock to protect fresh water intakes including those of the City of Houston and Lake Anahuac.

“We apologize for the inconvenience this may cause to recreational boaters; however, it is important to note the project’s primary purpose is to serve as a saltwater barrier, protecting freshwater sources at the mouth of the Trinity River,” said Supervisory Natural Resources Manager Richard Long, USACE Galveston. “We are coordinating with the Trinity River Authority in order to monitor salt water levels at the project.”

According to Long, a drought of this severity has not been experienced in the 11-year history of the project, and consequently the Corps has modified operations over the past few months to reduce the movement of salt water up river.

Corps programs, such as the Wallisville Lake Project, support an array of nationally important environmental goals that include restoring ecosystem health; conserving and improving habitats for plants, fish and wildlife; protecting and restoring rare, threatened and endangered species; providing conservation and education; keeping the nation’s waters clean; and achieving no overall net-loss of wetlands.

For more information and updates concerning lock operations, monitor the USACE Galveston District’s social media sites: Facebook, www.facebook.com/GalvestonDistrict and Twitter, www.twitter.com/USACEGalveston.