Rehabilitation of a 120-year-old, high-hazard dam to meet regulatory safety standards and the community’s recreational needs

White Rock Dam Spillway Maintenance Repair

Every year, more than one million people enjoy nature in a special place not too far from downtown Dallas—a reservoir called White Rock Lake. This reservoir is formed behind the White Rock Dam, a lesser known but vital part of the site that needed repair. Constructed in 1911, the dam held with minor upkeep for over a century. When a regulatory issue emerged, Dallas Water Utilities engaged our help.

After a detailed condition inspection, our dam engineering specialists designed improvements to bring the dam into compliance with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality dam safety requirements. To help guard the dam against the risk of failure, and the community from flooding, we repaired the earth embankment erosion protection and the service spillway weir and apron concrete. The project also included new instrumentation for monitoring dam safety, tree and vegetation control to keep foliage from masking dam defects, and improved amenities with a new pathway and restored parapet wall.

The repairs to White Rock Dam bring the site up to the safety standards necessary to protect White Rock Lake so that visitors can continue to enjoy picnics, kayaking, sailing, fishing, and more for years to come.