Lake Conroe temporarily closed due to high water levels
CONROE (FOX 26) - Effective immediately, the San Jacinto River Authority is temporarily closing Lake Conroe due to high lake levels, the presence of submerged objects, floating debris, and other hazards that could put people’s safety at risk.
We recognize that this is Memorial Day weekend, and we will make every effort to fully reopen the reservoir as soon as conditions allow.
The lake level has risen to over 203’ above mean sea level, which is two feet over the lake’s normal pool level. The last time the lake reached this level was in March of this year.
At this level, many docks, bulkheads, small islands, and other structures are fully submerged and create a very dangerous situation for boaters. In addition, high winds and rapidly-flowing water from local streams have resulted in a large amount of floating debris on the reservoir. With bulkheads becoming submerged, lake area residents should also be cautious of electrical outlets and equipment coming into contact with water.
Over the past 24 hours, the Lake Conroe watershed has experienced rainfall totals from five to eight inches. This has resulted in a rapid rise in lake level.
SJRA is currently releasing water from the dam in accordance with its operating procedures for the reservoir. The rate of release is currently 8,120 cubic feet per second, which is slightly above the peak rates experienced in the large rainfall event in March of this year.
For anyone interested in monitoring the current conditions of the reservoir, SJRA provides continuous data regarding lake level and release rate on its homepage (www.sjra.net) along with numerous other data points. In addition, live gauge data can be accessed by clicking the link labeled “Lake & River Conditions” (look for the link labeled San Jacinto Contrail Web). There are excellent resources on the Current Lake & River Conditions page that provide up-to-date information on rainfall, stream flows, lake level, and other important weather information.