Addicks Reservoir, Flood control reservoir in Harris County, Texas

Addicks Reservoir is a flood control reservoir in Harris County, Texas, formed by a long rolled earthen embankment. The flat grounds spread across wide grasslands and scattered tree clusters that sit behind raised levees.

The dam project emerged after severe flooding in the 1930s, when the federal government authorized construction of water retention structures in the Buffalo Bayou basin. Work finished in the late 1940s and the basin began its role protecting downstream neighborhoods.

The reservoir and dam are named after the former town of Addicks, Texas, itself named for its original postmaster, Henry Addicks. The roughly 26,000 acres shared with Barker Reservoir are dry wooded land in normal times, used for recreation and nature observation; State Highway 6 crosses the basin north to south.

Access is available through several public entry points along the outer boundaries, with parking near trailheads and overlooks. The grounds are best explored during dry seasons, as water levels fluctuate after rainfall.

During Hurricane Harvey in 2017, water levels reached a record peak and flooded hundreds of homes built within the dam boundaries. This event triggered legal proceedings over responsibility for damage to private property inside the flood zone.