Bachman Lake Dam Rehab
Dallas Water Utilities is rehabilitating the Bachman Lake Dam and Spillway to minimize flood risk, ensure dam safety and meet regulatory requirements.
Construction underway on the Bachman Dam and Spillway
Bachman Dam was originally built in 1901 to supply water for Dallas. Today, it is no longer used for water supply yet serves an important role in mitigating flooding of nearby properties, infrastructure and businesses.
While the dam has only needed minor repairs over its lifetime, larger improvements are required to minimize flood risk and comply with regulations for dam safety. Trail improvements are also needed for public safety and better accessibility.
Lake dredging was completed in Spring 2023 to restore the lake’s depth. Construction on the dam, lake spillways and trail improvements began in December of 2023.
Aerial photograph of Bachman Lake Park and its surrounding area located in Dallas, Texas, taken in 1954.
Haskins, Squire. [Aerial View of Bachman Lake Park and Surrounding Area], photograph, 1954; (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1030325/: accessed November 21, 2019), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Dallas Municipal Archives.
Project Overview
Learn more about the dam and spillway rehabilitation.
Construction Timeline
View the project’s current schedule for completion.
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Latest News
February Bachman eNews
2024 Project Milestones The project team and construction crews have made significant progress on the Bachman Lake Dam and Spillway improvements project that started in early 2024. The project is now halfway complete, a significant milestone. Work is scheduled to be...
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As part of rehabilitating Bachman Lake Dam, an “Articulated Concrete Block” system is being added. This method uses concrete blocks that cover a portion of the dam’s earthen embankment to mitigate erosion during heavy rains and flooding. Crews began placing the blocks on the dam last week.
Como parte de la rehabilitación de la presa del Lago Bachman, se está agregando un sistema de “bloque de hormigón articulado”. Este método utiliza bloques de hormigón que cubren una parte del terraplén de tierra de la presa para mitigar la erosión durante las fuertes lluvias e inundaciones. Los equipos empezaron a colocar los bloques en la presa la semana pasada.
City of Dallas Water Utilities City of Dallas - City Hall Friends of Bachman Lake Bachman Lake Together Dallas Rowing Club Dallas Love Field
Construction crews have made significant progress over the last month, transforming the new Bachman Lake Spillway side walls from a line of shafts into a smooth concrete finish. Watch as crews place temporary concrete forms and steel supports to hold the concrete’s weight until it sets. Then, they steadily and carefully pour the concrete into the form. After it sets, the crews remove the steel supports and move on to the next panel.
Los equipos de construcción han progresado mucho durante el último mes, transformando los nuevos muros laterales del desagüe del Lago Bachman de una línea de pilotes a un acabado de hormigón liso. Observe cómo los equipos colocan encofrados provisionales de hormigón y soportes de acero para sostener el peso del hormigón hasta que se seque. Después, vierten el hormigón en el encofrado de forma constante y cuidadosa y una vez seco el hormigón, los equipos retiran los soportes de acero y pasan al siguiente panel.
City of Dallas Water Utilities City of Dallas - City Hall Friends of Bachman Lake Bachman Lake Together Dallas Rowing Club Dallas Love Field
The construction crews are installing six special instruments (called piezometers) to monitor groundwater levels in the dirt embankment of the Bachman Lake Dam. These instruments have a total of nine sensors and will send real-time data to the Bachman Water Treatment Plant, a significant upgrade to the current methods for checking the dam’s groundwater level status. Crews are drilling holes to precise depths and then securing the instruments in place with a central pipe.
Los equipos de construcción están instalando seis instrumentos especiales (llamados piezómetros) para monitorear los niveles de agua subterránea dentro del terraplén de tierra de la presa del Lago Bachman. Estos instrumentos tienen un total de nueve sensores y enviarán datos en tiempo real a la planta de tratamiento de agua Bachman, una mejora significativa de los métodos actuales de monitoreo del estado de los niveles de agua subterránea de la presa. Los equipos están perforando hoyos a profundidades precisas y luego asegurando los instrumentos en su lugar con un tubo central.
City of Dallas Water Utilities City of Dallas - City Hall Friends of Bachman Lake Bachman Lake Together Dallas Rowing Club Dallas Love Field
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