USACE Galveston dispels rumors of breached dams

Published Aug. 31, 2017

GALVESTON, Texas (Aug. 31, 2017) – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Galveston District informed the public today, that there are no breaches in the Addicks and Barker Dams.


The district’s Dam Safety Team has been continuously monitoring the dams throughout the Harvey storm event, as directed by the category 2 procedures in their operational manuals. Currently, water is only flowing through the outlet structures of both dams and around the north end of Addicks.

“There are no breaches in either of the dams, as some other communications have alluded ,” said Galveston District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Edmond Russo.  If there are any issues out of the ordinary with the dams, the Corps will inform the public immediately.”


The Addicks and Barker watersheds have received approximately 35-40 inches of rain across the watersheds since the beginning of the severe weather. Releases from both reservoirs began three days ago continues to release at approximately 7000 cfs and 6300 cfs, respectively. The Corps expects to decrease the combined discharge outflows to 4000 cfs thereafter unless weather conditions change. 

“We have a cadre of professional engineers who continue to monitor our structures on a 24-hour, seven days per week basis, Russo explained.

Based on a seven day forecast of less than one inch of rain, reservoir discharge rates are expected to continue for the next 10 to 15 days.

Flows around the north end of Addicks began two days ago, and at current discharge rates of approximately 200 cfs should cease around early September, assuming weather conditions do not change, according to recent modeling.

“The Harvey flood water in storage will likely take about three months to release from our structures, assuming we get little or no further rainfall over this timeframe.  The goal is restoring flood water storage capacity in the reservoirs,” said Russo.

Learn more about the Texas coast at http://www.swg.usace.army.mil/Missions/TexasCoastValuetotheNation.aspx. For news and information, visit www.swg.usace.army.mil. Find us on Facebook, www.facebook.com/GalvestonDistrict or follow us on Twitter, www.twitter.com/USACEgalveston. 


Contact
Randy Cephus or Breeana Moore
swgpao@usace.army.mil

Release no. 17-034