Description

Please join the Eastland County Water Supply District as they celebrate the completion of the Lake Leon Dam Project with a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony on Friday, July 2nd at 5:00PM at the Lake Leon Dam. This will mark the re-opening of FM 2461 road over the dam along with the boat ramp and camping facilities located at the dam. EASTLAND COUNTY WATER SUPPLY DISTRICT LETTER: Now that the rain has stopped and warmer temperatures have set in, TxDOT is set to complete the final road surface treatment to FM 2461 in the coming weeks which will complete the rehabilitation project and allow the roadway to be opened back up to traffic. This final component to the project was schedule for May, but cool temperatures and heavy rains prevented the work from occurring. TxDOT specifications for these surface treatments (emulsified asphalt and rock) require installation in warm and dry conditions, otherwise the surface will not hold up to traffic. Heavy rains that fell over the Lake Leon watershed in late May/early June provided a good test for the new dam and spillway improvements recently completed. Based on rainfall totals obtained from the National Weather Service, engineers estimated the storm event to be approximately a 20% annual exceedance probability event, often referred to as a “5-year storm event”. The lake level rose enough from this storm event to engage the new auxiliary spillway channel, which is now approximately 4 feet lower than the original 1,200-foot wide earthen auxiliary spillway channel elevation to reduce lake flood levels during large floods. The new spillway pilot channel and concrete box culvert constructed under FM 2461 performed as anticipated. In a continued proactive effort to keep Lake Leon Dam safe and extend its life for decades to come, ECWSD will be tackling additional dam maintenance and rehabilitation improvements. The next rehabilitation project will include stabilizing the remaining gaps on the upstream embankment that haven’t been stabilized yet with sheet pile, rehabilitation of pipe joints and concrete surfaces in the 11-ft diameter concrete morning glory primary spillway conduit and inlet riser, erosion prevention measures in the auxiliary spillway to protect against extreme flood events, and improvements to the raw water intake and pump station to improve safety and make the system more resilient. The ECWSD applied for and was granted a General Land Office (GLO) Community Development Block Grant for hazard mitigation (CDBG-MIT) that will provide 99% of total project costs with only a 1% local match.