San Jacinto River Authority starts releasing water from Lake Conroe after heavy rain

The San Jacinto River Authority began releasing water from Lake Conroe on Tuesday after heavy rain across Southeast Texas pushed the reservoir slightly above its normal pool.

The authority said the controlled release was underway at 529 cubic feet per second, with the lake level reported at 201.23 feet. Lake Conroe's normal pool is 201 feet.

The release followed rainfall tied to Tropical Storm Arthur, which also left the Houston area under flood-watch conditions and raised flooding concerns in Montgomery and Harris counties.

Why the release started

According to reporting from the Houston Chronicle, SJRA said the release was intended to manage the rising water level and reduce risk to the dam embankment. The authority said it was monitoring the lake and forecast with partners, including the National Weather Service and local emergency managers.

Lake Conroe is managed by the San Jacinto River Authority and sits on the West Fork of the San Jacinto River in Montgomery and Walker counties.

What happens next

Officials had not said how long the release would last. The rate could change if additional rain falls, and downstream areas along the San Jacinto River could see higher flows during the release.

Residents in the region were already dealing with widespread flooding concerns as the same weather system continued to move through Southeast Texas.