Lakes Conroe and Houston lowered as storms approach

Officials are lowering water levels in Lakes Conroe and Houston as the risk of heavy precipitation from storms increases as tropical moisture moves into the region as early as Sunday morning.

The San Jacinto River Authority announced on Facebook on Friday that it was releasing 660 cubic feet of water per second from Lake Conroe Dam into the West Branch of the San Jacinto River, which then flows into Lake Houston.

The full level of Lake Conroe Pool is 201 feet.

Officials also began lowering Lake Houston by a foot early Sunday in anticipation of upcoming storms linked to activity in the tropics. The full pool at Lake Houston is 41.73 feet.

Lowering the lakes will help reduce the risk of flooding, as both lakes can handle incoming water during a storm. It’s common to lower water levels when the area expects more than four inches of rain, said Erin Jones, a spokeswoman for Houston Public Works.

“We can’t 100 percent prevent flooding because there is no perfect forecast of exactly where the rain is going to fall,” Jones said. “Ultimately, it always depends on Mother Nature, and that’s the tricky part.”

Jones said draining water can be a “balancing act” because bodies of water also serve as a source of drinking water for the area. Long-term forecasts need to be able to compensate for water drained over time, she said.

Severe coastal waves and dangerous winds off the Texas Gulf Coast are expected in the coming week, National Hurricane Center forecasters report.

Areas along and south of Interstate 10 are expected to see the strongest storms in the coming week as the Gulf Coast is expected to be hit with deep tropical moisture. Heavy rainfall could lead to flash flooding.