THE BEST WATER IN TEXAS
As Ben Franklin said, “When the well is dry we know the worth of water.”
Supplying water for our communities for the long term takes securing reliable water reserves and creating a strategic plan to manage our most valued resource… water. With planning and strategy that looks 50-100 years down the road, we want to ensure a plentiful and cost-effective water supply now and long into the future.
The aquatic chemistry of lakes fluctuates throughout the year, much like nature’s vibrant seasonal shifts. As leaves grow, thrive, wilt, and fall like clockwork with the seasons, Lake Conroe undergoes its own cyclical changes.
Water Chemistry on Lake Conroe
As one of the SJRA’s Groundwater Reduction Plan (GRP) Utility Lead Operators, Jacob is responsible for supervising employees and operations of the surface water treatment plant, transmission system, and water receiving facilities.
Securing Water Resources Now and Into the Future
Lake Conroe was constructed as part of a state-wide initiative to increase Texas’s water storages after recording breaking droughts in the 1950’s
Watershed Protection Program
When boating on Lake Conroe, keeping safety first in mind will help all of us to enjoy our beautiful lake now and in the years to come!
Staying Safe on the Lake!
After a record seven-year drought in the 1950s, state water planners began preparing to prevent future droughts from having such a negative effect.
The Drought That Led to The Best Water in Texas
Texas has all types of extreme weather from long droughts to floods. It’s important for Texans to be aware of their surroundings and have a plan on how they’ll deal with unexpected changes, before and after they occur.
Droughts and Floods in Texas
SJRA is one of 10 major river authorities in the State of Texas, and like other river authorities, its primary purpose is to implement long-term, regional projects related to water supply and wastewater treatment.
Foundation of the SJRA
Our Shared Story
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1917
1917The citizens of Texas passed a constitutional amendment allowing for the building of dams, reservoirs, and delivery systems to help the reserving and development of state water resources.
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1937
1937A local entity was created by special act of the Texas Legislature. Its geographic boundaries cover whole or part of seven counties in the San Jacinto River Basin.
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1937-1941
1937-1941A long-range program of soil conservation and land reclamation to improve the agriculture of the area and prevent negative impacts to the watershed from soil erosion was initiated.
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1945
1945A portion of the Federal Works Agency canal system that served ship channel industries was acquired, as well as water rights in the San Jacinto River.
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1968
1968Construction of Lake Conroe began with a 1/3-2/3 partnership with the City of Houston and with loan assistance from the Texas Water Development Board.
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1973
1973Lake Conroe was completed and filled with a dependable annual yield of up to 100,000 acre-feet of water supply. The final cost of the project was some $30 million.
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1975
1975Responsibility for owning and operating the wholesale water supply and wastewater treatment systems serving The Woodlands was acquired. The Woodlands water supply system has grown to some 38 groundwater wells serving nearly 100,000 people.
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1995
1995The acquisition of water rights in the Trinity River basin happened at a cost of $18 million to substitute for San Jacinto River water in serving its ship channel industrial customers, thereby freeing up 1/3 of the water in Lake Conroe for future local use in Montgomery County.
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2005
2005Negotiations began with the City of Houston to acquire the right to use Houston’s stored water in Lake Conroe. Those negotiations were protracted and made more difficult by the competition for water from interests in Harris County.
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2009
2009Additional water rights in Lake Houston had been secured with Texas Commission on Environmental Quality permits for previously unidentified and unallocated water.
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2010
2010A project to address a severe shortage of groundwater was taken on. Almost three years and more than $2 million were spent to research, prepare, and offer a solution available to every county on an equal and impartial basis.
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2010
2010The proposed solution was accepted by more than 85 water utilities. The joint groundwater reduction plan is an excellent example of utilizing the capabilities of a river authority to create an efficient, regional, cost-effective solution.
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2021
2021The San Jacinto River Authority (SJRA) continues to be a leader in the management of the water resources of the San Jacinto River Basin.
Groundwater
Protection
We work to find efficient, cost-effective solutions in reducing regional reliance on groundwater. Regional partnerships working together for alternative water supply make this possible.
Subsidence
Solutions
Land subsidence occurs when large amounts of groundwater have been excessively withdrawn from an aquifer. SJRA works to find and develop solutions to help our communities avoid subsidence.
Future
Planning
We partner with stakeholders at the local, state, and federal levels to plan for the future of every community we serve by working to secure, protect, and preserve water resources for the years to come.
Flood
Mitigation
Located at Lake Conroe, the Flood Management Division develops short-term and long-term regional flood management strategies. We partner closely with federal, state, and local government entities to achieve our goals.
The Communities we serve
Planning for The Best Water in Texas has been happening in our community for over 75 years. The San Jacinto River Authority serves the entire San Jacinto River watershed. We conserve and protect the water resources of the San Jacinto River Basin throughout all or part of seven Texas counties including Montgomery, Fort Bend, Waller, Grimes, Walker, San Jacinto, and Liberty.
Lake Conroe
Our primary mission in the Conroe area:
- Operations and maintenance of the Lake Conroe Dam
- Preservation of Lake Conroe as a reliable water source
- Long-term water supply planning
- Licensing and permitting
- Invasive aquatic plant management
- Water quality initiatives
The Woodlands
We undertake the following work in the area of The Woodlands:
- Groundwater production and distribution
- Water systems operations and management
- Wastewater treatment
- Outreach programs – educating youth
Highlands
In the Highlands we undertake a raw water enterprise which covers:
- Water supply planning and development
- Responsible for projects to develop new water supplies
- Coordinate a water supply program
How we Serve
SJRA’s vision is to continue being a trusted leader in the management of the water resources of the San Jacinto River Basin by ensuring long-term water supplies, providing safe drinking water, raw water, and wastewater treatment services, protecting source water quality, coordinating regional flood planning, and informing and engaging the public on a wide range of water resources management topics. Contact us to learn more!
Planning ahead for the next 50-100 years, the SJRA team is specifically equipped to take on large scale, complex, highly technical projects for our customers and the communities we serve. With our long history in water supply development and planning, our goal continues to be to provide timely and efficient solutions to the watershed’s current and future water challenges.
Keeping “The Best Water in Texas” the best takes all of us. Find out how you can do your part to preserve and conserve our most valued resource now and long into the future.
