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 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.
Contact Us
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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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Reinforcing a spillway takes precision and symmetry. This intricate steel grid will create a solid structure for the labyrinth weir spillway (where water will flow over the new spillway and downstream).
Reforzar un desagüe requiere precisión y simetría. Esta intrincada rejilla de acero creará una sólida estructura para el desagüe en forma de laberinto (por donde el agua fluirá sobre la nueva desagüe y aguas abajo).
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 adding riprap made from layers of sand, gravel and boulders to the lake-facing side of the Bachman Lake Dam. This will help protect the dam from erosion and shield the dam’s dirt embankment against waves. The installation process requires careful shaping of the dam’s slope before placing and spreading the layers of riprap, and it is nearly complete.
Los equipos de construcción están añadiendo pedraplén formado por capas de arena, grava y rocas a la parte de la presa del Lago Bachman que da al lago. Esto ayudará a proteger la presa contra la erosión y proteger el terraplén de tierra de la presa contra las olas. El proceso de instalación requiere una cuidadosa conformación de la pendiente de la presa antes de colocar y extender las capas del pedraplén y está casi terminado.
City of Dallas Water Utilities City of Dallas - City Hall Friends of Bachman Lake Dallas Rowing Club Dallas Love Field
As part of the Bachman Lake Dam upgrades, six digital sensors are being added inside the dam to send detailed electronic information directly to the treatment plant, saving the team time and keeping them out of the elements. Although Bachman Lake is not a water source, the Bachman Water Treatment Plant team monitors the lake since it’s so close to the treatment plant. Maryam, DWU Senior Engineer, manually monitors the lake’s dam through groundwater level observation wells—in all kinds of weather.
Como parte de las mejoras de la presa del Lago Bachman, se están añadiendo seis sensores digitales dentro de la presa para enviar información electrónica detallada directamente a la planta de tratamiento, lo que ahorrará tiempo al equipo y los mantendrá a salvo de los elementos. Aunque el Lago Bachman no es fuente de agua para la planta de tratamiento de agua de Bachman, su equipo monitorea la presa del lago debido a que el lago está tan cerca de la planta. Maryam Daneshparvar, Ingeniera Principal de DWU, monitorea manualmente la presa del lago mediante pozos de observación del nivel de aguas subterráneas, en todo tipo de condiciones meteorológicas.
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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