LCRA: Floodgates closed but watch for strong currents on lakes
Three open floodgates at Max Starcke Dam on Lake Marble Falls. Photo courtesy of James Oakley
Floodgate operations at Wirtz and Starcke dams have concluded, the Lower Colorado River Authority announced on Thursday, July 25. The LCRA opened two floodgates at Wirtz Dam and three at Max Starcke Dam early Wednesday morning “to move storm runoff downstream into Lake Travis.”
“The LCRA will continue releasing storm runoff downstream through hydroelectric generation,” according to the authority’s latest Flood Operations Report. “Though flows from hydroelectric generation are less than flows from floodgates, the flows are still notable and will cause currents in the lakes. Anyone recreating in the lakes should be aware of the currents and should take precautions to stay safe.”
The floodgates were opened after the Llano River crested at 17.2 feet at around 1 a.m. Wednesday due to unseasonable July rains in its watershed west of Llano County. The National Weather Service had put Llano County under a flood warning.