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Aerial imagery from Addicks and Barker Dam and Reservoirs

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers-Southwestern Division

Aug. 31, 2017 | 2:26

BROLL: Aerial imagery from Addicks and Barker Dam and Reservoirs captured on Aug. 31 2017. The imagery shows the structures functioning as expected after receiving 32-35 inches of rainfall produced by Hurricane Harvey.

Currently, Addicks is releasing approximately 7500 c.f.s. and Barker is releasing approximately 6300 c.f.s.

The decision to make the increased controlled releases was a difficult, but necessary one that we did not take lightly.

We made them quicker than we would have preferred, because the Addicks pool rose faster overnight than we had forecast and the pool threatened to disable power to the gates.
We were concerned that we would not be able to actuate the gates due to the rapid flows into the structure and this could have caused unacceptable risk to our spillway.

The gates on Barker were opened slower and we determined that we needed to halt further increases to observe both structures before determining if it was appropriate to increase releases to full discharge.

The Corps consulted with engineering experts from all over the country throughout this process to assist in making these decisions.

More than a half century ago, in response to devastating floods that occurred in Houston in 1929 and 1935, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers began construction of Addicks and Barker Dams in what was then undeveloped areas in far west Harris and east Fort Bend counties. This undertaking was a milestone in a longstanding partnership between the Corps and the greater Houston community.

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. But like much of our national infrastructure, Addicks and Barker have been around a long time. The Corps continually inspects all of its dams nationwide under its Dam Safety Program, a program that shows our commitment to protecting lives, property and the environment by ensuring that all dams are designed, constructed, operated and maintained as safely and effectively as possible. The Corps' Dam Safety Program provides a framework to ensure that both short and long term solutions are studied and applied and helps to ensure public safety for our local communities.