The Woodlands Edition | March 2024

Government

BY JESSICA SHORTEN

Funding secured for Bear Branch Dam rehabilitation

San Jacinto River Authority ocials announced in a Feb. 26 press conference that a $5 million proj- ect to rehabilitate the Bear Branch Dam is moving forward following approval of a federal grant. What you need to know A total of $3.6 million in federal funding has been allocated to the SJRA to fund a complete rehabilita- tion of the Bear Branch Dam and reservoir, accord- ing to the SJRA. The SJRA monitors water quality in the San Jacinto basin, provides water to municipal utility districts and other entities, and operates the Lake Conroe Dam. The funding request was submitted by U.S Rep. Dan Crenshaw, R‡Houston, to address ‰ood mitigation eŠorts in south Montgomery County. The remaining $1.4 million will be locally funded in partnership with ‘ve municipal utility districts that are part of The Woodlands Water Agency. The scope of the project will include recon- struction of soil cement dams and redesign of the

spillway to better allow for drainage, SJRA Project Manager Briana Gallagher said. SJRA ocials said design on the project will start in late 2024, with construction anticipated to begin in 2026. Quotes of note “This project is critical for ‰ood mitigation eŠorts for the community because it will improve storm- water runoŠ drains to the reservoir,” Crenshaw said at the press conference. “This project will also positively aŠect neighborhoods along the corridor as mobility has been compromised in the past because of high water on neighborhood streets.” What’s next Design work is expected to begin in September. The Bear Branch Dam rehabilitation project is part of $374 million in water-related project needs for The Woodlands area identi‘ed in 2023 by SJRA.

U.S. Rep. Dan Crenshaw discusses federal funding for the Bear Branch Dam during a press conference on Feb. 26.

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