LCRA temporarily closes four Highland Lakes
Water roars through the four open floodgates at Max Starcke Dam in Marble Falls. On June 2, the Lower Colorado River Authority temporarily closed Inks Lake, Lake LBJ and Lake Marble Falls to recreational boating due to extensive floodgate operations on the Highland Lakes. The LCRA has opened three floodgates at Buchanan Dam as of noon June 2, but a fourth one was slated to be opened at 2 p.m. Go to lcra.org for up-to-date floodgate operations. Staff photo by Daniel Clifton
FROM STAFF REPORTS
MARBLE FALLS — With heavy rains falling early June 2 in the Highland Lakes watershed, Lower Colorado River Authority officials temporarily closed Lake LBJ, Inks Lake and Lake Marble Falls to recreational boating as of 11:25 a.m. that same day. The LCRA later closed Lake Travis.
By 1 p.m. June 2, the LCRA had opened three floodgates at Buchanan Dam, which forms Lake Buchanan, but planned to open a fourth at 2 p.m. The release and more inflows from tributaries led to more floodgate operations downstream.
Wirtz Dam had one gate fully opened and one partially opened, while Max Starcke had four floodgates fully open. Water was also pouring over the spillway at Inks Dam, which has not floodgates.
According to the LCRA website, further floodgate operations could also occur at Wirtz and Starcke dams.
Officials urged people near or on water to use extreme caution as the currents would be swift and strong. Along with the fast-moving water, there is also the danger of debris moving down the rivers and lakes.
For up-to-date floodgate operations and lake conditions, go to lcra.org and view the Flood Operations Report.
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