Divisions of SJRA: Lake Conroe Division
Located at the Lake Conroe Dam, the San Jacinto River Authority’s (SJRA) Lake Conroe Division’s primary functions include: agricultural, municipal and industrial raw water supply, reservoir operations, water quality and source water protection, invasive species management, navigational safety, and regulation of structures and commercial operations on the reservoir. Lake Conroe was constructed through a joint venture between SJRA and the City of Houston beginning in 1969 and completed in 1973 to serve as a backup water supply reservoir for the City of Houston which owns two-thirds of the water rights in the reservoir.
The Lake Conroe Division’s primary function is the operations and maintenance of the Lake Conroe Dam, reservoir, and spillway structures, for the purpose of safely passing storm events through the reservoir while maintaining the structural integrity of the Dam.
The Division is also responsible for regulating and licensing various activities on Lake Conroe including: commercial operations (marinas, boat/personal watercraft rentals, construction, and any other businesses on the reservoir), residential docks, boat slips, residential bulkheads and water sales for landscape irrigation purposes. SJRA’s Lake Conroe Division works cooperatively with Montgomery County law enforcement to ensure that all uses of the lake are in compliance with the Lake Conroe rules and regulations with the goal of providing a safe environment for navigation and recreation.
The Division inspects and permits all on-site sewage facilities (OSSF) after new construction, investigates OSSF complaints, and handles enforcement related to those facilities. SJRA’s Lake Conroe Division also operates a water quality sampling program and has implemented a watershed protection plan for Lake Conroe.
Through partnering with local, state, and federal organizations, the Division manages invasive aquatic plants and conducts zebra mussel monitoring and vessel inspection associated with invasive species. With various participating organizations, SJRA’s Lake Conroe Division has developed a program to establish a healthy native vegetation population across the reservoir in order to help with water quality as well as sustain a suitable fisheries habitat.