X
GO

Water School

I’ve heard that reservoirs have a “lifetime.” What does that mean?

Texas streams and rivers are in constant motion and the waters they pour into our reservoirs carry with them a continuous but varying amount of sediment.

When the water is slowed or stopped as it runs into a reservoir or by a dam, the sediment drops to the bottom. This sediment builds up year after year and at some point, fills the reservoir to a point it can no longer continue to serve its purpose in flood control or water supply. Without expensive dredging, this would be the end of the reservoir’s effective “lifetime.”  The average life of a reservoir in Texas is considered to be about 100 years.

Related

Share

Search
Categories

The information provided on this site is intended as background on water within the Brazos River basin. There should be no expectation that this information is all encompassing, complete or in any way examines every aspect of this very complex natural resource.

If you have questions about a post or would like additional information, please contact us or call 888-922-6272.

Tags
brackish cfs water use potable estuary inundated legislation drilling measure conservation mainstem volume rain insurance treatment contaminants impound hunting dock drinking water municipal wildlife streamflow costs sediment limestone water clarity reservoirs surface water ground water lawn releases mitigation pharmaceuticals industrial authority medicine speaker sanitation maps main stem riverine fertilizer effluent jobs dissolved solids environment golden algea bay sludge kayak reservoir lake precipitation hydrology wetlands wetland agricultural agriculture supply chlorides quality rights chlorine mission flood pool landscaping watercourse infection gulf filter Board subsidence district oxygen fork septic spillway corps of engineers aerobic drought taste camping depth basin monitor marsh direct re-use sewage evaporation meta tag water rights planning climate governance classification contract beneficial use environmental bed and banks water planning soil recreation hydropower spring septic system turbidity USGS riparian algae hydrologic cycle consumption salinity subwatershed wastewater tributary anaerobic acre-foot invasive plants lake level pollutants farming clarity boating streamflow inland appropriation system bottled water emergency use water fish kill solids water cycle allens creek reservoir minerals water code channel mgd acre-feet granbury electric companies subsidence aquifer water plants water quality river dam map gate canoe golden algae habitat canoeing E coli stream possum kingdom TCEQ storage permit E. coli water supply hydrilla well watershed calcium gas groundwater indirect re-use flood parasite lakes industry water treatment fishing gage biosolids corps employment xeriscape electricity runoff lake levels use smell organic PAM salt flood control lake