Critical flooding situation developing on Lake Travis and downstream (Austin TX)

many | me

[janetjanet998]

I should note that LCRA isn’t following its own flood protocol with states that only 30,000 cfs outlow until the lake hits 710

I believe they are concerned that there is a chance the Lake could over top the spillway

I should note: the Max outflow of Lake Travis is around 100,000 cfs which they will only do if the Dam is in Danger

I suspect the outflows from Lake Buchanan will be redcued soon

note”

[rktman]

Hope Cen-Tejas is high and dry. Got these the last couple days:

we got ten inches this week. Lake Travis is nearing an all time high having risen 30’ in something like 48 hours. That’s a 65 mile long and deep lake. Dam’s up the Colorado River west of Austin.

It may go over the spillway which in it’s 80 odd years I don’t believe has ever happened.

And this:

I live around 800 above sea level. All this is going on around 650 50 750 ten miles away. But, its huge. Hundreds of boats and docks got washed down the river, bridges destroyed that had been around 75 years and many helicopter rescues. I haven’t heard of anyone killed yet.

[Responsibility2nd]

Thanks for posting this.

Since the first of September rainfall amounts have been much higher than normal here in the Texas Hill Country.

Things could get worse before they get any better.

[janetjanet998]

edit Note: The Dam about the Llano river is Buchanan Dam

local news link
https://www.kvue.com/

lake levels
https://floodstatus.lcra.org/#llevels

river flows
https://hydromet.lcra.org/

[janetjanet998]

“we got ten inches this week”

Yes and it was very widespread over much of the basin..plus its not summer and there is less vegetation to help absorb runoff

[zeugma]

We had a dry summer here in DFW, enough to wipe out a bunch of my lawn. October, on the other hand, has been pretty much nonstop rain. That’s pretty much the way it works here in Texas. You get one or the other.

[janetjanet998]

DFW airport 23.89 inches since Sept 1st normal 4.65

11.2 month to date

[hadaclueonce]

Texas is a desert with an flood every once in awhile.

It is terrible. You folks in California should move some where else.

[rktman]

Probably you meant folks FROM Cali should move someplace else. 👹🍿🍻👍🏼😹😹😹

[janetjanet998]

714 Flow reaches and goes uncontrolled over the emergency spillway over Mansfield Dam at Lake Travis. Hundreds of homes around Lake Travis flood, many with water well over their roofs or in the second floor level.

710 Hundreds of homes around Lake Travis at Graveyard Point at Lakeway flood with water well over some roofs and into the second floor of lower homes.

705 Disastrous residential flooding of hundreds of homes occurs around Lake Travis at Graveyard Point at Lakeway, many with water over their roofs in up to 17 feet of water.

700 Many homes flood at Graveyard Point at Lakeway on Lake Travis, some with water to their roofs in up to twelve feet of water.

695 Lowest temporary and mobile homes in Graveyard Point at Lakeway on Lake Travis have up to seven feet of water in them.

691 The lowest permanent homes at Graveyard Point at Lakeway on Lake Travis flood. Several temporary homes are in several feet of water. 688 Lowest temporary and mobile homes at Graveyard Point at Lakeway on Lake Travis flood. 685 The lowest temporary and mobile homes at Lakeway at Graveyard Point on Lake Travis are threatened.

[cweese]

I’ve lived in Austin since 1983 and remember the 1991 flooding of Lake Travis. We walked to the midway point across Mansfield Dam and were amazed at the amount of water they were letting out (I believe only 6 of the gates were opened at that time). This recent series of storms, by comparison, seems to be much more severe and I hope LCRA can manage this properly.

[donozark]

Not sure of exact situation at Canyon Lake but bulletins have been issued for New Braunfels/Guadeloupe River and other points some distance from Austin. More rain expected today.

[janetjanet998]

well LCRA has been behind the curve prediction wise...and didn’t take into account the extreme rainfall at the currect time and followed it by the book. they could ave opened the 4 gates on Lake travis earlier . but then again with 350,000 cfs comning in a few 10.000 cfs isn’t going to do much

the book
https://www.lcra.org/water/floods/Pages/key-elevations-for-lake-travis-during-floods.aspx

[Jane Long]

Canyon Lake is currently at 913.6’, almost 4’ over Full. Flood pool is 943’.

Canyon was about 7’ below Full, just over two weeks ago (and throughout the summer).

[eastexsteve]

Does this mean that the Austin area drought caused by man-made global warming is over?

[JimRed]

Can we hope that bright blue Austin will be washed out of red Texas?

[janetjanet998]

Inflow to lake buchanan has fallen to 38,000 cfs outflows still 60,000 so lake is slowly falling

IMO they may reduce and stop the outflows there the next day or so ro reduce inflows to Travis

all depends on Rain of course

source
https://hydromet.lcra.org/

[Darteaus94025]

Nice try, but I’m on my way.

Anyone is better than Nancy.

[Robert A Cook PE]

Perhaps even more important (for the long term outlook) for those of use from the San Antonio-Bexar Comale County area since the 1960’s, is that the Edwards Aquifer is now at all-time HIGH levels.

Springs that have never flowed since the Spanish arrived are now passing water all over the place.

In the 70’s and 80’s all of South Texas feared we were draining the Edwards Aquifer, and that San Antonio and other cities would go dry.