Houston County Public Works to lower Houston Lake for scheduled dam maintenance

HOUSTON COUNTY — Later this month, Houston County Public Works will conduct a planned lowering of Houston Lake for scheduled maintenance. Lowering will begin on Jan. 20, and repairs are expected to end on Feb. 17. Public access to the lake is expected on Feb. 24.

County Engineer Ronnie Heald said this scheduled lowering is also an opportunity for residents living on Houston Lake to repair their docks. 

“[Lowering Houston Lake] gives us time to look at the dam because we have to submit a yearly report due to the Georgia Safe Dams Act,” he said. “When the dam is down, it gives you a better vantage point of looking at everything on the dam.” 

Heald added that lowering the water level is part of their ordinance and was required every three years, but that has since changed to every five years. The water level will be lowered gradually by four feet from the lake’s current level. 

“Houston Lake is a private lake, but the dam itself is county and county residents are able to use the lake through the dam access,” he said. 

Heald expects there will be a similar workflow to the one used when Public Works lowered Houston Lake. Heald said that during this time frame, access to the lake is discouraged as they will be blocking off the dam area. He added that there are possibilities of stumps, sandbars, and shallower water than normal near the boat ramps. 

“This gives us an opportunity to do a real good inspection of the dam which is the main benefit for the county,” he said. 

In a media release from Houston County Public Works, the agency said it will monitor the lake throughout the process and provide updates if the schedule changes due to significant rainfall during that time frame. The release said water delivery will also not be impacted by the lowering of Houston Lake.