Modernizing historic dam infrastructure in North Texas

Bachman Lake Dam and Spillway Improvements

Built in 1901 to create a water supply reservoir in Dallas, Bachman Lake Dam’s sole purpose these days is to host Bachman Lake Park—a hot spot for water recreation enthusiasts. While its central location makes it popular, this also places the dam in a high hazard category by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ). The dam is key to protecting residences, infrastructure, and businesses from flooding.

Modern dam safety regulations, area growth, and increased flood risks spurred Dallas Water Utilities (DWU) to implement a major upgrade effort. They reached out to us to lead the design of dam improvements.

Our design strengthened the dam by adding seepage control features and armoring the 1,800-foot (549-metre) long earthen embankment. We converted the 120-year-old concrete ogee weir spillway into a much more efficient labyrinth spillway and relocated the auxiliary spillway to improve flood control. We also provided geotechnical exploration, hydrology and hydraulic studies, utility coordination, and construction phase services.

Additionally, the project involved dredging to restore the lake’s water depth for recreational use and improve water quality. We worked with DWU to develop an offsite dewatering location to reduce impacts at Bachman Park while increasing efficiency. The effort removed 154,441 cubic yards (118,078 cubic metres) of sediment and 3,125 tons of debris from the lake, freeing up more space for activities like rowing and fishing. Our team also designed and widened an accessible walking path.

DWU’s rehabilitation of Bachman Lake Dam helped enhance this community destination for years to come.