The San Jacinto River Authority has closed Lake Conroe to boating and other activities for safety reasons as the region heads into its third day of widespread rainfall.
In the last 48 hours, some areas of Montgomery County have received up to eight inches of rain, according to Montgomery County Judge Mark Keough’s office. The Lake Conroe watershed has received 10 inches of rain.
Officials did not have an estimate for when the lake would reopen for boating.
According to the river authority’s website, the lake level has climbed to 203 feet matching the level reached during Tropical Storm Allison in 2001 but still well below the 206 feet reached during Hurricane Harvey in 2017.
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Normal pool for the lake is 201 feet.
Officials are releasing water at 11,945 cubic feet per second, causing some flooding in areas downstream from the Lake Conroe Dam.
Jason Millsaps, executive director of Montgomery County’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, said there haven’t been many flood issues around the county but said rescue crews responded to a high water rescue off Pecan Bend Drive near Texas 105 Tuesday morning.
The closure of Lake Conroe for boating is common during periods of heavy rainfall over several days as high lake levels increase floating debris and submerged objects.
“At this level, many docks, bulkheads, small islands, and other structures are fully submerged and can create a dangerous situation for boaters,” said Heather Ramsey, director of communications for the river authority. “In addition, high winds and rapidly-flowing water from local streams can result in a large amount of floating debris on the reservoir. With bulkheads becoming submerged, lake area residents should also be cautious of electrical outlets and equipment coming into contact with water.”