{"id":1114,"date":"2023-06-28T13:14:10","date_gmt":"2023-06-28T13:14:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sercoconstruction.com\/?p=1114"},"modified":"2023-08-23T13:22:24","modified_gmt":"2023-08-23T13:22:24","slug":"lake-conroe-dam-repairs-ahead-of-schedule","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sercoconstruction.com\/lake-conroe-dam-repairs-ahead-of-schedule\/","title":{"rendered":"Lake Conroe Dam Repairs Ahead of Schedule"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Originally posted on the Houston Chronicle<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Repairs to Lake Conroe\u2019s hurricane-damaged dam are about 30 percent complete and well ahead of schedule.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cLooks like we are going to have to pay (Serco) the $30,000 reward for finishing ahead of schedule, and we\u2019re plenty happy about that,\u201d<\/strong> said Blake Kellum, who manages Lake Conroe for the San Jacinto River Authority.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hurricane Rita\u2019s assault in late September whipped waves up to an unprecedented 8 feet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The waves, coming from the north, slammed into the dam, washing aside a concrete riprap protective barrier and dug down to the structure\u2019s clay core, creating a 3,000-foot-long scar across the dam\u2019s face.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe first 1,000 feet of the damage has been repaired, so the work is moving along faster than we expected,\u201d Kellum said, noting a lack of bad weather has assisted the project\u2019s progress.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although damaged, the integrity of the core \u2014 and with it, the dam \u2014 was never threatened.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a result, though, the SJRA dropped lake levels to more than 4 feet below the lake\u2019s normal pool level of 201 feet above sea level, stranding countless vessels in their lakeside boathouses, aggravating homeowners and, for the first time in years, actually creating beaches along the lake\u2019s perimeter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019re hoping that the progress being made right now on the dam\u2019s repairs will let us resume normal levels before much longer,\u201d Kellum said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Back to normal soon<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Completion of the work has been set for April 18, in time, most likely, for late spring rains that would help recharge the lake and bring levels back up in time for the upcoming summer season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Houston-based Serco is doing the work, coming in as the lowest bidder, saying it could do the job for $1.6 million.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That work includes repairing the dam\u2019s core, replacing the various levels of sand and earth wiped away by the storm, and then replacing the concrete riprap barrier with larger chunks of concrete, this time going with 36-inch square sizes rather than the 24-inch chunks used originally.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cEngineering tells us that using the larger riprap will provide an extra margin of protection, should we experience similar storm conditions in the future,\u201d Kellum said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Federal Emergency Management Agency has awarded the SJRA a $1.05 million grant to help cover repair costs, and U.S. Rep. Kevin Brady, R-The Woodlands, said the grant is important in retaining the natural resource Lake Conroe provides.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cLake Conroe is a vital water supply for Greater Houston, and it is a significant tourism draw and economic driver for Montgomery County,\u201d Brady said. \u201cRepairing the dam to pre-Hurricane Rita levels is a top priority, and the San Jacinto River Authority has acted quickly to make sure these repairs are made as soon as possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe federal grant will help them continue their work,\u201d Brady said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Impact of low levels<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Barbara Shelabra , who manages April Plaza Marina, said her business has taken a hard hit because of the low lake levels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNo doubt \u2026 our business is suffering because the lake levels,\u201d Shelabra said. \u201cBut, it\u2019s not as bad as it could be, and it\u2019s the same with all the other businesses. If the lake (continues to drop), we\u2019ll all be in a serious world of hurt.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kellum, while sympathetic to the dilemma faced by Shelabara, property owners and others, said the priority is to make sure repairs are done correctly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe cannot risk improper repairs, and we do recognize the impact of keeping the lake this low during this time of year,\u201d Kellum said previously.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Serco is shortening that time. \u201cWe are confident the repairs are going to be completed well ahead of schedule and the lake levels restored much sooner than anyone expected,\u201d Kellum said. \u201cWe are very thankful for that and encouraged by the results so far.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Originally posted on the Houston Chronicle Repairs to Lake Conroe\u2019s hurricane-damaged dam are about 30 percent complete and well ahead of schedule. \u201cLooks like we are going to have to pay (Serco) the $30,000 reward for finishing ahead of schedule, and we\u2019re plenty happy about that,\u201d said Blake Kellum, who manages Lake Conroe for the San Jacinto River Authority. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":492,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"content-type":"","_uag_custom_page_level_css":"","site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center 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