[10][11] In March 1979, an improvement was made to strengthen and anchor the dam, as well as modifying gate operations, in order to provide an emergency spillway.
Each gate is controlled via an actuator that is situated inside the dam's gatehouse.
San Antonio Express-News history columnist Paula Allen has referred to the dam as "the jewel in the crown of San Antonio’s system of flood control.
"[4] It has become a "staple structure north of downtown San Antonio.
"[3] Excavations in the area around Olmos Dam, both prior to the dam's construction in the 1920s and in subsequent excavations such as in 1979, have yielded a good number of Native American artifacts.