A $30 million FEMA grant has been approved to fund repairs at the Lake Livingston dam in Texas.
The Trinity River Authority (TRA) will use the funds to address damage caused from heavy rainfall and flooding last year, Congressman Pete Sessions of Texas’s 17th Congressional District announced.
The dam, a key water source for East Texas communities including Houston, experienced unprecedented water flow of 124,000 cubic feet per second last year, which damaged the spillway and stilling basin.
The TRA labeled the damage an “emergency condition” and began immediate repairs, including restoration of rip rap and clay around the dam’s apron.
TRA officials emphasized the importance of the grant in maintaining water supply to Houston and the surrounding petrochemical industry. FEMA Region 6 and the Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) were credited for quickly allocating the funds.
The grant aims to ensure the dam’s continued operation, safeguard water access, and strengthen infrastructure resilience against future weather events.
