City of Dallas Officials Celebrate Updated Bachman Lake Dam and Spillway with a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony 

$45 million dam rehabilitation improves flood control, public recreation, and dam safety

Dallas, Texas — City of Dallas officials recently celebrated the completion of the Bachman Lake Dam and Spillway rehabilitation project. The project improvements will ensure dam safety and regulatory compliance, minimize flood risk, and allow residents to enjoy the lake for years to come. Stantec, a global leader in sustainable design and engineering, led the detailed design of the improvements and dredging for Dallas Water Utilities (DWU). The project’s ribbon-cutting ceremony took place on March 31, 2026. 

Designed for water supply, shaped by community

Built in 1901 to create a water supply reservoir, Bachman Lake Dam was originally located in a low-density area outside the city. After years of significant population growth and development in Dallas, that location is now a residential and light industrial area. Due to its central location in Dallas, it is classified as a high hazard dam by the Texas Commission of Environmental Quality (TCEQ). While the dam is no longer used for water supply, it continues to play an important role in mitigating the flooding of nearby properties, infrastructure, and businesses. 

Bachman Lake Dam was well-designed for its time, and this rehabilitation will reinvigorate the dam and surrounding park space to serve the community for another life cycle,” said David Lutz, geotechnical project manager at Stantec. “This project is a success story of how collaboration and proactive efforts to address dam safety conditions can have ripple effect benefits.”

Supporting community recreation

Located in Bachman Lake Park, the dam renovation included dredging of the lake to reduce sediment buildup and increase water depth for local recreational activities that take place in the park’s waterway, including rowing and fishing. In addition to the dredging work, Stantec designed and widened an ADA-accessible trail within the park to create a safer path for park visitors over the dam. 

Stantec has extensive experience delivering dam and spillway rehabilitation projects while allowing public access and park use. Discover more about Stantec’s Dam Safety & Dam Rehabilitation practice. Learn more about the Bachman Lake Dam and Spillway Project.