AUSTIN, Texas — The Lower Colorado River Authority opened two floodgates at Tom Miller Dam and one at Mansfield Dam on Saturday to pass floodwater downstream following days of heavy rain across Central Texas.
One floodgate was opened at Mansfield Dam early Saturday, with a second expected to open around 1 p.m., according to the LCRA.
Lake Travis, which forms behind Mansfield Dam, was expected to rise to a range of 685 to 686 feet above mean sea level through the day Saturday, LCRA said.
The lake reached “full” capacity of 681 feet Friday night for the first time since July 2019, after rising 9 feet in 24 hours, according to CBS Austin meteorologists.
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The flood operations follow a chain reaction of water moving down the Colorado River basin.
LCRA opened floodgates at Wirtz and Starcke dams Thursday night, releasing water from lakes LBJ and Marble Falls after heavy rain sent rivers upstream to dangerous levels. As of Saturday morning, those floodgates remained open.
CBS Austin meteorologist Avery Tomasco reported the Pedernales River had reached its highest level since 1979.
The Llano River saw a second crest overnight Friday into Saturday after renewed heavy rain caused flooding in Junction, sending additional fast-moving, debris-filled water downstream through Mason, Llano and Kingsland before reaching Lake LBJ, Lake Marble Falls and Lake Travis. River flood warnings remained in effect Saturday for the Llano River near Mason and at Llano.
The city of Austin instituted a waterway ban, in effect until 5 p.m. Tuesday, covering Lake Austin from Mansfield Dam to Tom Miller Dam, Lady Bird Lake, and the Colorado River downstream of Longhorn Dam.
LCRA has said no floodgate operations are expected at Buchanan Dam on Lake Buchanan or at Bastrop Dam. Inks Dam on Inks Lake has no floodgates, and overflow at its spillway was not expected.
Officials continue to urge residents to stay away from area rivers and lakes given fast, debris-filled currents, and to avoid driving across flooded roadways.