An up-close view of our dams

Each day, several million people living in the Brazos River basin depend on the Brazos River Authority’s system of reservoirs to provide water to their homes and businesses. But only a small portion have visited the reservoirs or have seen how these massive dam structures function.

A newly-released video featuring dam operations at the Brazos River Authority’s three reservoirs was released in October as part of an educational series designed to answer the publics' most commonly-asked questions. The video features information on gate mechanics, releases, and how Possum Kingdom Lake’s Morris Sheppard Dam, Lake Limestone’s Sterling C. Robertson Dam, and Lake Granbury’s DeCordova Bend Dam and their management have changed over the years.

The Brazos River Authority’s new dam operations video highlights the differences in the construction of the three dams, how they are operated, and the multiple options available for making releases.

The video is the one of a trio of educational films released by the BRA during the month of October. Two others address questions about fluctuating water levels and the basics of BRA operations.

“Very few Texans understand the benefits provided by river authorities,” said BRA General Manager/CEO David Collinsworth. “We have so many complex issues that our experts manage on a daily basis; issues that could impact water supply.”

The BRA hired Washington D.C.-based Flying Colors Broadcasts to produce the three videos, that debuted on social media channels and live at brazos.org, the BRAs website. The company visited each of the BRA-owned and operated reservoirs, capturing awe-inspiring footage. In the videos, members of the BRA management team and reservoir managers share information, including their thoughts and insights into operations.

The BRA aims to provide educational material in visually interesting ways on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, it’s website and through its quarterly newsletter. The video project was a natural progression, Collinsworth said.

“We hope to continue to provide folks a better understanding of what we do and why we do it,” Collinsworth said. “Better informed stakeholders will promote better communications, improved water supply and a safer Texas”

We hope communities throughout the Brazos River basin enjoy the productions and share them with neighbors as we all work to protect Texas’ water resources. If you’d like to provide us with feedback, email us at information@brazos.org.

To view the dam operations video, go here. And to learn more about the BRAs other responsibilities, go here. To learn more about why water levels fluctuate, go here.