Officials Poised To Open Mansfield Dam Floodgates As Levels Rise

AUSTIN, TEXAS — Amid historic flooding conditions throughout Central Texas, floodgates at Mansfield Dam will remain open Friday as levels at Lake Travis continue to rise, officials said

Lower Colorado River Authority officials said four floodgates at the Mansfield Dam will remain open to mitigate over-capacity in light of recent heavy rains. LCRA officials said they do not anticipate having to open additional floodgates at the structure, but the need might arise given the mercurial and unpredictable nature of Central Texas storms: "However, this is a dynamic situation and conditions could change," LCRA officials added as a qualifier after suggesting no further floodgate openings were immediately needed.

"Those projections could change if additional rain falls in the lower Colorado River basin," LCRA officials said in assessing the potential for more floodgate openings. "Additional rainfall could cause LCRA to need to open up to four additional floodgates at Mansfield Dam to move floodwaters downstream," officials added. "If that happens, we will alert the public and local officials immediately."

Residents — particularly those living downstream of Mansfield Dam — are urged to check the LCRA home page frequently for updates. "This is a serious situation, and people should take action to protect people and property," LCRA officials stressed. "Anyone downstream of Mansfield Dam should remain prepared for the potential that additional floodgates may be needed."

Meanwhile, at Lake Travis, water levels continue to rise at the rain-swollen reservoir: "LCRA now projects that Lake Travis will rise within a range of 704 to 706 feet above mean sea level by Saturday," officials said. "Those projections could change if additional rain falls in the lower Colorado River basin."

WATCH LAKE TRAVIS WEBCAM

That worst-case scenario is up to 25 feet above desired levels. The ideal level at Lake Travis is 681 feet above sea level, a point deemed "full" at maximum desired capacity. By Friday morning, the water level at Lake Travis was 703.91 feet — the fifth-highest crest on record. The Lake Travis water level would have to rise to 741 feet before runoff would surge over the Mansfield Dam spillway, but that scenario has never materialized in the history of the man-made reservoir.

CHECK LCRA's HYDROMET FOR RAINFALL TOTALS, STREAM FLOW AND LAKE LEVELS.

Given the looming threat, several residents in the area of Lake Travis already have evacuated from their homes. Earlier this week, residents living along Mockingbird Street in Lago Vista reportedly exited their homes in search of higher ground elsewhere. Mockingbird Street is a low-lying artery fronting Lake Travis.

LCRA officials continue to monitor a number of other area dams, and have closed several bodies of water for recreation use in light of the ongoing danger: "Flood operations continue at Buchanan, Inks, Wirtz, Starcke, Mansfield and Tom Miller dams," LCRA officials said. "Flows throughout the Highland Lakes are swift and high. LCRA has closed lakes Buchanan, Inks, LBJ, Marble Falls and Travis until further notice."

Related stories:

Lake Austin Residents Brace For Man-Made Deluge As Dams Open

Travis, Williamson Counties Flash Flood Watch Extended

Travis County Judge Declares Region Disaster Area

Maps Show Destruction Should Travis County Dams Break

Texas Transportation Officials To Assess Storm Damage

Nature's Fury: Central Texas Rain Leaves Destruction In Its Wake

Get Patch's Daily Newsletters and Real Time Alerts

>>> Top photos: View of the rain-swollen Colorado River from the MoPac Expressway (Loop 1), just west of Zilker Park, early afternoon on Friday, Oct. 19, 2018, video of same by Tony Cantú/Patch staff