Lake LBJ drawdown schedule goes back to Feb. 24 re-fill, citing lake business needs
Connie Swinney/The Highlander
The Lower Colorado River Authority announced Feb. 7 an amended schedule for the current drawdown of Lake LBJ (Pictured here in Kingsland). To assist with the recovery of lake-related business, the drawdown will go back to the Feb. 24 re-fill date. Lake Marble Falls will remain on a March 18 re-fill schedule.
Special to The Highlander
In consultation with the Llano and Burnet county judges, the mayors of Horseshoe Bay, Marble Falls and other incorporated towns on lakes LBJ and Marble Falls, the Lower Colorado River Authority announced Feb. 7 an amended schedule for the current drawdown of Lake LBJ, a Lower Colorado River Authority press release stated.
The refill of Lake LBJ now is scheduled to begin Feb. 24. The refill of Lake Marble Falls continues to be scheduled to begin March 18.
“The revised schedule for refilling Lake LBJ will allow our communities and businesses to restore operations, which will better serve our citizens and visitors to our communities,” Llano County Judge Ron Cunningham said in the LCRA press release. Communities on Lake LBJ include Kingsland, Granite Shoals, Highland Haven, Horseshoe Bay and Sunrise Beach.
Last week, LCRA announced it was extending the drawdown timetable by three weeks to March 18 after requests from local officials. However, Horseshoe Bay area officials have since requested the timetable be shortened a bit on Lake LBJ.
“After further evaluating the timetable for the drawdown, elected officials on Lake LBJ have now informed us that shortening the drawdown to Feb. 24 works better for their constituents,” LCRA General Manager Phil Wilson, stated in the press release.
Public officials near Lake LBJ expressed appreciation for the change regarding the Lake LBJ timetable.
“After consulting with my constituents, I believe beginning the refill of Lake LBJ on February 24 is the right thing to do,” Horseshoe Bay Mayor Steve Jordan stated.
Marble Falls Mayor John Packer stated that he is pleased Lake Marble Falls will continue to remain drawn down until mid-March.
“My constituents who own properties on the river appreciate that their work to repair their docks and remove debris will be allowed to continue to March 18,” Packer stated. “We need this additional time and thank LCRA for being responsive to our request.”
LCRA lowered the lakes beginning Dec. 30 to provide lakeside property owners an opportunity to remove debris and repair docks, retaining walls and other items damaged during severe flooding last October.
The refill on Lake LBJ is scheduled to begin on Sunday, Feb. 24, and conclude by the end of the day on Wednesday, Feb. 27.
The refill on Lake Marble Falls is scheduled to begin on Monday, March 18, and conclude by the end of the day on Thursday, March 21.
For more information, visit lcra.org/lakelowerings.
