Many people don’t realize that Lake Conroe was created through a joint venture between the San Jacinto River Authority (SJRA) and the City of Houston (COH).  The lake was designed as an additional water supply for the City of Houston, meaning its primary purpose has always been to serve as a water supply.

Construction of Lake Conroe began in 1969 and was completed in 1973, with the reservoir filling in October of that year.  The water is owned by the State of Texas.  By permit, SJRA is authorized to hold approximately 430,000-acre feet (140 billion gallons) of water in the Lake with a right to use up to 100,000-acre feet each year for specified beneficial purposes including drinking water.  These water rights are split between SJRA and the City of Houston.

• SJRA: 33,333 acre-feet (1/3)
• COH: 66,667 acre-feet (2/3)

Water Right History

• February 1967: Initial water rights issued for municipal, industrial, and mining with specific allocations for each category.
• Amendment A (July 2010): Authorized all 100,000 acre-feet to be used for municipal, industrial, mining, and additional, agricultural use.
• Amendment B (October 2025): Adjusted maximum water supply diversion rate from 700 cubic feet per second (cfs) to 2,000 cfs.

How Lake Conroe is Managed

Lake Conroe is managed by SJRA’s Lake Conroe Division, whose primary responsibility is the operations and maintenance of the Lake Conroe Dam, reservoir, and spillway structures.  Part of their mission is to safely pass stormwater through the reservoir while maintaining the structural integrity of the dam.

Although SJRA operates the reservoir, the COH pay two-thirds of the Lake Conroe Divisions operating costs since the COH owns two-thirds of the water rights.

The Lake Conroe Division will also, upon request by the COH, release COH’s lake water from the Lake Conroe Dam into the San Jacinto River, where it flows downstream to Lake Houston.

Understanding how Lake Conroe was built, funded, and managed helps our community better appreciate the shared responsibility involved in maintaining this vital resource. As both a recreational destination and a key water-supply reservoir, Lake Conroe will continue to play an essential role in our region’s water security and economy for decades to come.

Featured in Dock Line Magazine.