The latest step in the ongoing rehabilitation of the Bachman Lake Dam and Spillway has begun: Dallas Water Utilities (DWU) has begun construction on improvements designed to minimize flood risk, ensure safety, and meet regulatory requirements.

DWU, in partnership with Dallas Park and Recreation, is leading the project at the lake.

Improvements will include adding a new structure to remove water during major storm events; raising the height of the trails so they won't get flooded; widening the trail; and adding seating and lighting.

A temporary detour has been placed in a portion of the park trail to ensure pedestrian safety and maintain accessibility during construction activities. Details are below.

Trail Detours
Bachman Lake trail users are advised of the following trail detours during construction:

Detour signs will guide trail users to follow the temporary trail route from the south side of the main dam along the sidewalk next to Denton Drive. The temporary trail will continue north on Denton Drive, then turn onto Webb Chapel Extension, where the right lane will be closed to vehicles and open for pedestrians up to Bachman Drive.

From Webb Chapel Extension, trail users will follow the temporary trail in front of the Bachman Recreation Center until it connects with the existing trail northeast of the playground at Bachman Lake Trail marker 131 (BLT 131).

Two DART bus stops located on Webb Chapel Extension (between Denton Drive and Bachman Drive) will remain in use and be accessible.

Bachman Lake Dam and Spillway Project
Bachman Dam was originally built in 1901. The dam and spillway help mitigate flooding of nearby properties, infrastructure and businesses. While only minor repairs to the dam have been needed over its lifetime, larger improvements are now required to minimize flood risk and comply with Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) regulations for dam safety. The rehabilitation upgrades will minimize flood risk, ensure dam safety and meet regulatory compliance. The planned trail improvements will enhance park patrons experience.

Rehabilitation activities at Bachman Lake began in early 2022 and focused on dredging the lake to remove sediment and debris accumulated over time. Dredging was completed in April 2023. The contractor removed 154,441 cubic yards of sediment and 3,125 tons of debris from the lake, resulting in improved water quality and aquatic habitat, in addition to the restoration of the lake to recreational levels.

Bachman Lake improvements currently underway will replace and increase the capacity of the existing service spillway and relocate the auxiliary spillway to avoid flooding adjacent properties. Structural improvements to the dam will preserve the integrity of the main embankment and meet TCEQ dam safety requirements.

Some trees must be removed near the main embankment to meet the state’s dam safety regulations. Once construction is complete, large-canopy trees will be planted to supplement the existing landscaping.

During construction, Bachman Lake will be reduced by a few feet to allow construction crews to work safely. The project will also widen the trail across the dam embankment, upgrade the trail’s lighting and adjust the trail in some locations to meet accessibility requirements.

These improvements are expected to be completed in the winter of 2025-2026.