The first phase of the Bachman Lake Dam and Spillway Rehabilitation Project has been completed, and the City of Dallas is ready to move forward on the next stage of the plan.
Bachman Lake is a 205-acre lake in the northwest section of the city. The surrounding park includes a hike and bike trail spanning just over 3 miles, picnic areas, a pavilion, boating facilities, and more. The lake was originally formed by the construction of a dam in 1901 to serve as the city’s first water supply reservoir, but it is now used for recreational purposes only.
Phase 1 of the rehabilitation project centered on dredging the lake to restore it to recreational depths and to remove accumulated sediment islands and debris. The dredging maintenance improvements will “revitalize the lake, improve water quality and allow residents to enjoy the lake for years to come,” the City’s website states.
The dredging, which began in early 2022, was completed in April 2023, and the lake is now open to the public without restriction for rowers, kayakers, and other users.
Renda Environmental, the contractor for Phase 1, removed 154,441 cubic yards of sediment and 3,125 tons of debris from the lake. The trash and dewatered slurry were transported by truck to an off-site location for disposal.
The next phase of the improvement project, focusing on Bachman Dam and the spillway, will address “regulatory flood capacity as well as structural and stability recommendations. These improvements will ensure dam safety and regulatory compliance, [and] minimize flood risk,” according to a City press release.
In addition, the existing service spillway will be replaced to improve capacity, and an auxiliary spillway will be moved and widened to help pass flood events safely.
The designs for Phase 2 have already been completed. Bids are expected to be received over the summer, with construction beginning in the winter months, pending City Council’s approval of the construction contract.
The improvement project, led by Dallas Water Utilities in partnership with Dallas Park and Recreation, is expected to be completed in the spring of 2025, according to the City’s website.
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