Montgomery County awards $10M road construction bid

Lake Conroe Water Level Dispute Heats Up: Residents Push Back Against SJRA's Seasonal Drawdown Policy

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Texas – A simmering conflict between Lake Conroe waterfront property owners and the San Jacinto River Authority (SJRA) erupted at a packed public meeting this week, as residents voiced sharp opposition to the authority's seasonal lake level management policy. The meeting, held at the Lone Star Convention Center in Conroe, drew over 400 attendees and lasted more than three hours.

At the center of the dispute is the SJRA's practice of lowering Lake Conroe's water level by approximately two feet during the winter months, typically from November through March. The drawdown, which the SJRA says is necessary for dam maintenance, shoreline erosion control, and flood storage capacity ahead of spring storm season, has long frustrated lakefront homeowners who say it damages their docks, exposes muddy shorelines, and diminishes property values.

"Every winter, our dock is sitting on mud," said longtime lake resident Tom Harrison. "We can't use our boats, the view is terrible, and when we try to sell, buyers see a mud flat instead of a lake. This policy is costing us real money."

The SJRA, which owns and operates the Lake Conroe dam under a permit from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ), maintains that the seasonal drawdown is essential for public safety and infrastructure integrity. SJRA General Manager Jace Houston presented data showing that the drawdown has prevented an estimated $45 million in flood damage over the past decade by creating additional storage capacity in the reservoir ahead of heavy spring rains.

"I understand the frustration of lakefront property owners," Houston said. "But this dam is 53 years old. We have a legal and moral obligation to maintain it properly, and that requires periodic drawdowns. The alternative—a catastrophic dam failure—is unthinkable."

However, residents and their advocates argue that the SJRA's drawdown is more aggressive than necessary and that modern engineering solutions could reduce or eliminate the need for such significant water level reductions. Several speakers cited other Texas reservoirs that maintain more consistent water levels year-round.

Montgomery County Precinct 1 Commissioner Robert Walker, whose precinct includes much of the Lake Conroe shoreline, said he has asked the SJRA to commission an independent engineering study to evaluate whether the drawdown could be reduced. "The lake is the economic engine of this part of the county," Walker said. "We need to find a solution that protects the dam AND protects the property values and quality of life of the people who live here."

The Lake Conroe Association, a homeowners' advocacy group, has also retained a water resources engineering firm to conduct its own analysis of the drawdown policy. Association president Carol Mitchell said preliminary findings suggest the drawdown could be reduced by up to 50% without compromising dam safety, though the SJRA has not yet reviewed or responded to those findings.

Lake Conroe, created in 1973 by the damming of the West Fork of the San Jacinto River, covers approximately 21,000 acres and has 150 miles of shoreline. It is one of the most popular recreational lakes in the Houston metropolitan area and is surrounded by residential communities, resorts, and marinas that depend on consistent water levels for economic viability.

The SJRA has agreed to hold two additional public meetings before making any changes to the drawdown policy for the upcoming winter season. The next meeting is scheduled for August 2026.