LCRA is opening floodgates

Inflows to the Highland Lakes continue to increase because of rains upstream of Lake Buchanan over the night of April 20-21. With increased inflows, the level at Lake Buchanan was approaching 1,018 feet above mean sea level (feet msl). LCRA is temporarily maintaining Lake Buchanan at a level that does not exceed 1,018 feet msl because of an ongoing project to upgrade and strengthen the floodgates and other facilities at Buchanan Dam.

In response to additional rainfall and inflows from areas upstream of Lake Buchanan, LCRA opened one floodgate at Buchanan Dam at 6 p.m. on Thursday, April 21. Downstream of Buchanan Dam, the level of Inks Lake is currently about two feet above the overflow spillway of Inks Dam.

At Wirtz and Starcke dams, which form lakes LBJ and Marble Falls, releases were increased Thursday evening through hydroelectric generation. Floodgate operation is expected at Wirtz and Starcke dams Friday morning. Flows passed through Wirtz and Starcke dams will enter Lake Travis.

At Mansfield Dam, which forms Lake Travis, LCRA increased releases from Lake Travis through additional hydroelectric generation at 3 p.m. on Thursday, April 21. The increase in releases at Mansfield Dam is in response to increased inflows to Lake Travis, an increase in projected levels on Lake Travis, and improving conditions along the lower Colorado River downstream of Mansfield Dam. The planned releases are consistent with U.S. Army Corps of Engineers rules for flood operations at Mansfield Dam.

At Tom Miller Dam, which forms Lake Austin, in addition to ongoing releases through hydroelectric generation, LCRA partially opened one floodgate at about 4:15 p.m. on Thursday, April 21. The water released from Tom Miller Dam will pass through Lady Bird Lake and Longhorn Dam (operated by Austin Energy) in Austin. The level of releases will be about 7,000 to 8,000 cfs. Operations at Tom Miller Dam have been coordinated with the City of Austin and Austin Energy.

Downstream of Austin, the releases are not expected to affect flood conditions at any location. The Colorado River is falling from Bastrop to Columbus. The Colorado River at Wharton is rising and is expected crest on Thursday, April 21. See below for the links to the NWS River Forecast Center for the latest forecasts.

Weather forecast includes a chance of rain showers and thunderstorms for the entire lower Colorado River basin through today.

See the Central Texas 5-Day Forecast for the latest weather updates from LCRA meteorologist, Bob Rose.

NOTE: The Cummins Creek near Frelsburg stream gauge has returned to service after repairs to damage from high water were made..

See the River Operations Report for current information about LCRA's daily water supply operations and long-range forecasts for lakes Buchanan and Travis.

When flash flooding occurs, avoid unnecessary travel. If you must travel, don't drive into flooded roadways. Remember "Turn around, don't drown."

Unscheduled releases from the Highland Lakes dams may occur suddenly and unexpectedly at any time due to emergency hydroelectric generation or other reasons. The public should exercise caution and avoid being in the water near the dams at all times.