“The amount of water in these two reservoirs at the end of the day might be the equivalent of 3 to 4 years of water supply,” said Esteban Ramos with CCW.
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — After years of drought, crews at the Wesley Seale Dam are preparing for something they haven’t managed in years: a potentially full Lake Corpus Christi.
Floodwaters moving down the Nueces River are expected to reach the lake in the coming days, prompting dam operators to begin around-the-clock preparations to safely manage rising water levels.
This story continues below.
“We’re hoping we get full, and there’s a good indication that we are,” said David Lozano, who has worked at the dam for 17 years. “But we’re also prepared for any kind of flooding that may occur. So we’re ready.”
Lozano said the operations team is preparing to staff the dam 24 hours a day if needed, with crews monitoring lake levels and gate operations as inflows increase.
The Wesley Seale Dam is currently undergoing construction, but Lozano said the work will not affect flood operations.
“I know there’s been a lot of questions about whether or not our gates are operable, and yes they are,” Lozano said. “We can operate all 27 gates on this side if we need to.”
He said the outlet tower was recently rebuilt, allowing operators to handle smaller releases without opening the larger crest gates.
If the lake reaches its conservation level of 94 feet and continues to rise, operators will begin controlled releases to keep the lake at a safe operating level.
“When it gets to 94.2, then we have to open a couple of gates,” Lozano said. “If it continues to rise, we’ll continue to open gates until we reverse the upswing of the lake level.”
The goal, he said, is to carefully balance incoming water while protecting both the dam and communities downstream.
City officials say homes and RV parks surrounding Lake Corpus Christi are at elevations high enough that flooding is not expected around the lake itself. However, they are encouraging residents along the Nueces River below the dam to stay informed as river levels rise.
“If they own land next to the Nueces River below Lake Corpus Christi, keep an eye on their animals, their property,” said Esteban Ramos with the City of Corpus Christi. “If there’s anything close to the river, maybe it’s time to start thinking about bringing it away from the banks.”
Officials say any necessary water releases will be controlled and closely monitored. Emergency alerts will be issued if releases are expected to affect people living downstream.
For Lozano, the anticipated rise marks a dramatic change after years of watching the lake shrink during drought.
“It’s been a while,” he said. “But we’ve been through several floods, and rest assured, if the water’s coming, we’re going to get full without jeopardizing the integrity of the dam.”