Bear Branch Dam, located in the Woodlands, TX approximately 30 miles north of Houston, is part of the greater Bear Branch Detention System consisting of a 60-acre detention reservoir impounded by an earthen dam containing a concrete spillway structure. The dam, completed in 1983, is owned and operated by the San Jacinto River Authority (SJRA).  It is classified as an intermediate sized, high-hazard dam by The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ).

The Dam was constructed to manage storm water flows on Bear Branch and provide storm water detention for the Woodlands. The dam provides drainage and flood mitigation benefits to the northern portions of The Woodlands Township. Over time, the dam’s spillway structure and the dam’s soil cement on the upstream side of the dam have experienced significant deterioration.  Replacement of these features has become necessary.

Latest update (8/18/2025):  The project received full funding in FY2023 under the Environmental Infrastructure program. The project is currently in engineering and design and is scheduled for completion in March 2027.