General Information
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Fort Worth District, has revised the Master Plan for Town Bluff Dam and B.A. Steinhagen Lake (known collectively as Town Bluff Project) in 2024. The Master Plan is intended to serve as a comprehensive land and recreational management plan with a life span of 25 years. The Master Plan is the strategic land use management document that guides the comprehensive management and development of all project recreational, natural, and cultural resources throughout the life of the water resources project. Revision of the Master Plan will not address in detail the technical operational aspects of the reservoir related to the water supply or flood risk management missions of the project.
About Town Bluff Project
The project was originally named Dam B, but was later changed to Town Bluff Dam and B.A. Steinhagen Lake in 1967. Town Bluff Dam is located after the convergence of the Neches and Angelina Rivers in northwestern Jasper County, Texas. Town Bluff Dam/B.A. Steinhagen Lake is a multi-purpose project to re-regulate the intermittent power releases of Sam Rayburn Dam, provide head for hydroelectric power and diversion into a water supply canal, and provide some water storage. In addition to these primary missions, USACE has an inherent mission of environmental stewardship of project lands and works closely with neighboring cities to provide regionally important outdoor recreation opportunities. The Southwestern Power Administration, U.S. Department of Energy, markets the power and energy generated by the hydropower plant to the Sam Rayburn Municipal Power Agency for distribution to its customers in Jasper, Liberty, and Livingston Texas and Vinton, Louisiana. Water releases are utilized by the Lower Neches Valley Authority in Beaumont, Texas, for rice culture, salinity control, pollution abatement, municipal and industrial uses. Construction on the dam was started in 1947 and was completed in 1953. At the Normal pool elevation of 83.0 feet NGVD, the lake surface covers 13,700 acres. B.A. Steinhagen Lake is home to the following parks and recreation areas: Sandy Creek Park, Magnolia Ridge Park, Bluff View Park, Campers Cove Park, East End Park and Martin Dies, Jr. State Park.
Final 2024 Master Plan
Public Meeting August 29, 2023
- Public Meeting September 15, 2022