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.
Bachman Dam was originally built in 1901 to mitigate 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.
Contact Us
Questions about the project? Reach out for more info.
Latest News
Updates from May Public Meeting
Dallas Water Utilities staff provided an update on the Bachman Lake Dam and Spillway project on Monday, May 13, during the Neighbors in the Know meeting, a collaboration between the Bachman/Northwest Highway Community Association and Friends of Bachman...
Project Facebook Feed
The current #BachmanLakeDam is 1,800 ft long. That’s about twice the height of Bank of America Plaza in downtown Dallas. The improved dam itself will be the same length, but the replaced spillway (where water is released downstream) will be lengthened to improve capacity, and the auxiliary spillway will be moved and widened to mitigate flooding.
La presa #BachmanLakeDam actualmente tiene una longitud de 1,800 pies. Eso es aproximadamente el doble de la altura del edificio Bank of America Plaza en el centro de Dallas. La presa renovada tendrá la misma longitud, pero el nuevo desagüe (por donde se libera el agua río abajo) será extendido para mejorar su capacidad, y el desagüe auxiliar será desplazado y ampliado para mitigar las inundaciones.
City of Dallas - City Hall City of Dallas Water Utilities Friends of Bachman Lake
Bachman Lake Together Dallas Rowing Club Dallas Love Field
#DidYouKnow that a big part of the dam and spillway rehabilitation project is happening out of sight – below the surface? Crews will install groundwater sensors and modern equipment to improve the monitoring systems at #bachmanlakedam.
¿Sabía que gran parte del proyecto de rehabilitación de la presa y el desagüe está ocurriendo fuera de vista, bajo la superficie? Los equipos de trabajo instalarán sensores de aguas subterráneas y equipamiento moderno para mejorar los sistemas de vigilancia en la presa de #bachmanlakedam.
City of Dallas - City Hall City of Dallas Water Utilities Friends of Bachman Lake Bachman Lake Together Dallas Rowing Club Dallas Love Field
While Bachman Lake’s geographical size hasn’t changed and will remain the same during the dam and spillway rehabilitation project, the lake’s depth increased in 2023. This was due to the Bachman Lake dredging, which led to the the removal of 3,125 tons of debris and 154,441 cubic yards of sediment—resulting in improved water quality, aquatic habitat and restoration of the lake to recreational levels. #LakeAppreciationMonth #BachmanLakeDam
Aunque el tamaño geográfico del Lago Bachman no ha cambiado y seguirá siendo el mismo durante el proyecto de rehabilitación de la presa y el desagüe, la profundidad del lago aumentó en 2023. Esto fue resultado del dragado del Lago Bachman, que permitió retirar 3,125 toneladas de escombros y 154,441 yardas cúbicas de sedimentos, lo que mejoró la calidad del agua, el hábitat acuático y la restauración del lago a niveles recreativos. #mesdeapreciacióndeloslagos
City of Dallas - City Hall City of Dallas Water Utilities Friends of Bachman Lake
Bachman Lake Together Dallas Rowing Club Dallas Love Field
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