Authorities are lowering water levels in Lake Houston and Lake Conroe to mitigate flood risks from an approaching tropical system expected to impact the area with heavy rains.

At least 17 people and 15 animals had to be rescued in Montgomery County due to high water on Wednesday.

The San Jacinto River Authority (SJRA) and Montgomery County Constable Precinct 1 have announced that Lake Conroe is back open after being closed as a result of the heavy rain that pushed through the area Friday and overnight into Saturday.

CONROE – More than 1,400 residents from the Conroe area attended the San Jacinto River Authority (SJRA) special meeting at the Lone Star Convention & Expo Center Thursday to discuss and vote on the temporary flood mitigation strategy of lowering Lake Conroe on a seasonal basis. Those who live along lake Conroe generally pushed against the lowering of Lake Conroe. They won’t put it on the tour any longer.”Those who lived downstream, south and southeast of Lake Conroe, as near as River Plantation, and as far as Kingwood, were for the lowering of the lake. For the fall lowering, the SJRA recommended that the process should begin Aug. 1 and lower the lake by 200′ MSL and then again beginning Sept. 1, lowering the lake to 199.5′ MSL. This was the final amended proposal which SJRA is now asking the City of Houston to consider.