The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is seeking public comments for suggestions on a revised master plan for the Addicks and Barker reservoirs.

What residents need to know

The Addicks and Barker reservoirs, located in the Katy-area, were constructed in the 1940s to control downstream flooding in the Houston area and the Houston Ship Channel. The reservoirs are owned by the federal government and operated by the Corps, Community Impact reported.

The master plan acts as a 25-year comprehensive land-use guide for the reservoirs with the purpose of:
  • Providing long-term goals and management objectives
  • Adhering to federal laws for preservation, conservation, restoration, management and development
  • Providing adaptable land classifications
The last plan was completed in August 2009 but is out of date and no longer compliant with existing regulations, according to a master plan presentation.

Digging deeper


The master plan provides guidance to the Corps when making management decisions related to the reservoirs, including environmental, cultural and recreational opportunities, the 2009 plan states.

According to the presentation, the master plan doesn’t include facility design details, daily project administration details, flowage easement land management or the technical aspects of:
  • Flood risk water management
  • Regional water quality
  • Dam operations
  • Water releases
  • Dam safety
Get involved

Ahead of the draft of the master plan revision, residents are encouraged to submit written suggestions via a comment form with recommended changes, including but not limited to:
  • Changing land classifications
  • Changing resource goals and objectives
  • Creating utility corridors
According to comment form documents, feedback opened July 10 and is due by close of business on Aug. 9. Individuals can submit comments by:
  • Emailing the comment form to [email protected]
  • Mailing the comment form to 1011 Hwy. 6 S., Ste. 101, Houston, TX 77077 at the attention of David Mackintosh
For additional questions, community members are encouraged to call the Addicks Barker Office at 281-752-2600 or email [email protected].

What else?


Ahead of the public comment opening, the Corps was set to host a public meeting July 10, although it was canceled due to Hurricane Beryl recovery, according to a July 9 update to a news release.

The rescheduled public meeting will be hosted Aug. 19 at Trini Mendenhall Community Center at 1414 Wirt Road, Houston, from 4-6 p.m. Following this, another 30 day comment period will commence, Public Affairs Deputy Chief Carlos Gomez said in an email.

Looking ahead

According to presentation documents, the revised master plan typically takes 1 1/2 to two years with milestones including:
  • July 2025: Draft master plan released
  • August 2025: Public comment period
  • April 2026: Final master plan released