Authorized by the Rivers and Harbors Act of June 20, 1938, and modified by the Flood Control Acts of August 11, 1939; September 3, 1954; and October 27, 1965, Addicks and Barker Reservoirs are a flood damage reduction project in the Galveston District. Addicks and Barker Reservoirs prevent downstream flooding of Buffalo Bayou in the City of Houston. The construction cost of over $4 million appears small when compared to the giant saving which have resulted. Since the Barker dam's completion in 1945, the project has prevented flood damages estimated to be in excess of $16,372,000.00 million.

Addicks Dam Construction started in May of 1946 Completed in December of 1948 Earthen dam embankment, 61,166 feet long Watershed – 136 square miles Outlet structure – 5 conduits 6 feet high by 8 feet wide 252 feet long Maximum release – 7,852 cubic feet per second (cfs) High Point of Dam – 121.0 feet NAVD 1988 Natural Ground ends of Dam – North end 108.0 feet & West end 112.0 feet, NAVD1988 Approximate Boundary Gov’t-owned land – 103.0 feet NAVD 1988 Record Pool March 1992 – 97.46 feet NAVD 1988 April 27-28, 2009 Flood (Second Highest Pool) – 96.9 feet NAVD 1988 Approx. shoulder elevation of State Hwy 6 – 96.0 feet NAVD 1988 Outlet Structure Invert – 67.5 feet NAVD 1988

Barker Dam Construction started in February of 1942 Completed in February of 1945 Earthen dam embankment 71,900 feet long Watershed – 130 square miles Outlet structure – 5 conduits 7 feet high by 9 feet wide 190 feet long Maximum release – 8,734 cubic feet per second High Point of Dam – 113.1 feet NAVD 1988 Natural Ground both ends of Dam – 104.0 feet NAVD1988 Approximate Boundary Gov’t-owned land – 95.0 feet NAVD 1988 Record Pool March 1992 – 93.60 feet NAVD 1988 Approx. shoulder elevation of Westheimer Parkway – 93.21 feet NAVD 1988 April 27-28, 2009 Flood (Seventh Highest Pool) – 91.21 feet NAVD 1988 Outlet Structure Invert – 70.2 feet NAVD 1988