Lakes Marble Falls, LBJ to remain closed through mid November; To be lowered Dec. 30
Connie Swinney/The Highlander
Lake Marble Falls (Pictured here) will remain closed at least until Nov. 12, and Lake LBJ until Nov. 16 due to post-flood debris and conditions. LCRA is also scheduled to lower the waterways Dec. 30 for an eight-week period for dredging and maintenance.
From staff reports
Debris and unsafe conditions prompted the Lower Colorado River Authority today to extend the closure of Lake LBJ and Lake Marble Falls for week to 10 days following an assessement of post-flood waterway conditions.
Lake Marble Falls will remain closed until at least Monday, Nov. 12, and Lake LBJ will remain closed until at least Friday, Nov. 16, an LCRA press release stated.
"Property owners are allowed on the closed lakes during this time for the limited purpose of recovering or securing damaged property from the recent flood, if the property location is known," stated Clara Tuma in the release. "Boating on the lakes remains dangerous, and time on the lakes recovering property should be minimized.
"Submerged hazards may be difficult to see, especially at night," the statement read.
The Lower Colorado River Authority considered whether to re-open lakes LBJ and Marble Falls today, Friday, Nov. 9, but conditions delayed that step due to weather and lake conditions.
Meanwhile, all floodgates at dams along the Highland Lakes have been closed after the final flood gates at Mansfield and Tom Miller dams were closed Wednesday, Nov. 7, and Lake Travis was reopened. Lake Buchanan and Inks Lake have already been open to the public.
Due to debris clutter, high turbidity and swift-moving currents, the Lower Colorado River Authority has delayed re-opening of the lakes a number of times since mid October.
Flooding originating from the Llano River Oct. 16 caused quite a mess, not only for homes, but ripped shoreline structures and watercrafts from several locations.
Damage became compounded by flood gate operations necessary to prevent more extensive flooding.
“Property owners are allowed on the lakes during this time for the limited purpose of recovering or securing damaged property from the recent flood, if the property location is known,” LCRA officials stated. “Boating on the lakes remains dangerous, and time on the lakes recovering property should be minimized.
“Submerged hazards may be difficult to see, especially at night.”
Unpredictable weather events have prompted officials to err on the side of caution.
“The Highland Lakes watershed experienced historic flooding in October,” according to the LCRA. “With full lakes and saturated soil throughout the Highland Lakes watershed, the possibility of flooding from additional rainfall remains high.”
Even if officials re-open the rest of the waterways soon, lake access may soon become limited in less than two months. LCRA is scheduled to lower lakes LBJ and Marble Falls to allow lakeside property owners to dredge and conduct maintenance and repair on shoreline structures.
The lowering is scheduled to start Sunday, Dec. 30, for about an eight-week period.
