Austin-Area Dams To Be Opened Amid Flood Threat

AUSTIN, TX — The Lower Colorado River Authority was poised to open additional floodgates at two local dams Thursday afternoon amid the threat of additional flooding in the forecast.

The plan calls for reopening more floodgates at the Mansfield and Tom Miller dams, feeding Lake Travis and Lake Austin, respectively, to relieve the overburdened structures and avoid overfill. This comes on the heels of a flash flood watch issued on Thursday by the National Weather Service after a particularly wet month and two straight days of heavy storms.

LCRA officials said they plan to open one Mansfield Dam floodgate at 6 p.m. and partially open two more at Tom Miller Dam at 7 p.m. and another along at Buchanan Dam at 6 p.m. The latter structure feeds its namesake Lake Buchanan. The action at Tom Miller Dam represents the second floodgate to be partially opened there since this past Friday.

The LCRA moves to increase their flood operations along the Highland Lakes will create water to flow over the spillway at Inks Dam overnight, officials said. For the time being, the aforementioned dam openings are the only ones being planned, LCRA officials said.

"At this time, LCRA does not plan to open floodgates at Wirtz or Starcke dams, but that could change with additional rain," officials wrote, noting that hydroelectric generation is continuing at every dam along the Highland Lakes in action designed to move water downstream.

LCRA officials also plan to close a northern portion of Lake Travis for nighttime recreation "...because of a large flood debris field," officials explained. The affected area is an 11-mile portion of Lake Travis from mile marker 31 upstream to Starcke Dam, and a nine-mile area of the Padernales River from the confluence with the Colorado River to the Highway 71 bridge.

"While daytime boating is not restricted, boaters are advised to use extra caution,"LCRA officials wrote. Officials direct those seeking additional information to visit the Flood Operations Report.

Related stories:

Flash Flood Watch Issued For Central, South Texas

Barton Creek Inches Closer To Flood Level

The latest flood control efforts come a day after the National Weather Service issued a flood warning for Barton Creek as river levels crested toward flooding stage. Located at Loop 360 in South Austin, Barton Creek is under the flood warning until Saturday, officials previously said. The river there is expected to exceed flooding stage by Friday evening, officials said.

By 1 p.m. on Wednesday, the creek had risen to 6.3 feet — less than two feet shy of flood-stage level at 8 feet. By nightfall, officials said, the water level is expected to rise to 9.5 feet. Those living in proximity of the body of water are highly urged to monitor the latest weather forecasts and take necessary precautions to avoid getting caught up in flood runoff.