The Trinity River Authority says there is “no indication” Lake Livingston Dam has structural problems despite claims circulating online.
LIVINGSTON, Texas — The Trinity River Authority of Texas is pushing back against claims circulating online about the safety of the Lake Livingston Dam, saying there is “no indication” the dam’s structural integrity has been compromised.
In a statement posted on social media, the Trinity River Authority said it is aware of a video circulating online regarding the dam and emphasized that the structure is routinely monitored and evaluated alongside engineering professionals, regulatory agencies and technical experts.
“There is no indication the structural integrity of Lake Livingston Dam has been compromised,” the agency said. “Current inspection findings, monitoring information and engineering evaluations do not support claims of sudden or dangerous structural movement at the dam.”
The authority said additional monitoring and evaluation measures were implemented after the historic flooding events of spring 2024 and following emergency spillway stabilization work.
According to TRA, those measures were added under regulatory requirements and built on longstanding inspection and monitoring programs already in place at the dam.
The agency also said information shown in the online video “appears inconsistent with verified inspection records, established monitoring data and direct engineering observations collected during those efforts.”
TRA said construction tied to emergency response and stabilization work was completed in January 2025.
After those repairs were completed, officials said the Emergency Action Plan status for the dam was downgraded from “Potential Failure Watch” to “Watch Condition.”
TRA said that the designation “is not related to any observed structural failure or instability at the dam.”
Instead, the agency said the status reflects the need for planned long-term spillway improvements tied to updated studies involving extreme flooding scenarios, including events larger than those seen during Hurricane Harvey.
The Trinity River Authority said it continues working with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, the Texas Division of Emergency Management, the East Texas Electrical Cooperative, the City of Houston and engineering consultants on permanent spillway improvements.
The agency also said the Texas Legislature approved funding for those improvements during the 89th Legislative Session as part of ongoing investment in Texas water infrastructure and long-term water security.
According to TRA, design work on the permanent improvements is underway, with construction expected to begin in 2027.
“TRA remains committed to transparency and public safety and will continue providing updates as additional information becomes available,” the agency said.
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