Heavy rainfall in the Texas Hill Country overnight Thursday into Friday prompted the Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA) to take precautionary measures to manage rising water levels. The LCRA has opened multiple floodgates at Wirtz, Starcke, Tom Miller, and Bastrop dams to facilitate the release of storm runoff that is flowing into Lake LBJ from the Llano River.
This surge of runoff has caused water levels in tributaries throughout the upper basin to rise significantly. LCRA reported that the water moving from Lake LBJ is set to flow into Lake Marble Falls, and the expected downstream flow will be both swift and elevated, especially in areas downstream of the dams.
As of late Friday night, LCRA had fully opened all ten floodgates at Starcke Dam and five at Wirtz Dam, enabling a steady release of floodwaters downstream. These measures aim to control the rising levels and direct water flow from Wirtz Dam, which empties into Lake LBJ, through Starcke Dam, which creates Lake Marble Falls, and into Lake Travis.
LCRA anticipates retaining floodwater in Lake Travis, as the lake has already risen by 16.5 feet since Friday morning, although it currently stands at 654 feet, below its full capacity of 681 feet. Additionally, the authority indicated that it has begun partially opening a floodgate at Tom Miller Dam, which serves Lake Austin, and opened another floodgate at Lake Bastrop, releasing water into the Colorado River from nearby creeks.
Residents in the affected areas are strongly advised to take protective measures, exercise extreme caution near lakes, and stay informed about potential changes due to the ongoing rainfall and controlled releases from the dams.
This proactive response to the heavy rain illustrates the importance of infrastructure preparedness in managing flood risks and safeguarding communities.