Tag Archives: Mansfield Dam

Lake Travis lowering

At this hour, with four flood gates still open on Mansfield Dam, it’s down to 693.01 feet msl. But Anderson Mill Marina says the family sloop won’t be accessible until the lake drops another seven feet, to about 686, which won’t likely be this weekend. The marinas on each side of ours, Cypress Creek and Riviera, already have access, but their slip rental is a lot higher. Anderson Mill also has terrain problems (when the lake is above 686) which they don’t have. You can get a sense of how high water would flood the marina’s little available land in this unflooded photo.

UPDATE  LCRA was set to close one of the flood gates at 3 p.m. Friday, when the height was down to 691.01. I suppose it was dropping too fast for them. Also there’s rain forecast downriver. 

Lakes filling

LCRA site shows Lake Travis has risen about 12 inches since last night’s rain, as flow rates rise in the Llano and Pedernales rivers. Indeed:

"Inflows from overnight rains are slowly filling the Highland Lakes. Flood operations are not anticipated at this time. However the chances of flood operations this weekend have become more likely as the lakes fill."

They’ll start later this afternoon with hydrogeneration at Mansfield Dam, and likely stick with that if the predicted more rain in the watershed doesn’t start driving the level up too fast. Opening flood gates always seems to be the last resort, given it’s a reservoir, and opening too many can flood people living along Lake Austin farther downstream. Those folks are sure to be watching LCRA’s balancing act.