AUSTIN \u2013\u00a0Austin Water will conduct a test of the floodgate warning sirens at Longhorn Dam on Tuesday, September 15, 2026, at\u00a010 a.m.\u00a0Residents and visitors in the surrounding area may hear the siren during the test. No emergency is occurring and no action is\u00a0required\u00a0from the public. The siren\u00a0test\u00a0will sound,\u00a0one time,\u00a0continuously for\u00a0five\u00a0minutes.<\/p>\n
Pedestrian\u00a0traffic\u00a0will not be\u00a0permitted\u00a0on\u00a0the\u00a0Longhorn Dam section of sidewalk\u00a0along\u00a0Pleasant Valley\u00a0Road\u00a0during the siren test.\u00a0There will be no\u00a0impact\u00a0to\u00a0vehicle traffic\u00a0and no impact\u00a0to\u00a0the Hike and Bike Trail\u00a0or parkland.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The siren test is part of Austin Water\u2019s ongoing emergency preparedness program.\u00a0The\u00a0test at the dam will not change the position or status of the floodgates.\u00a0It is intended to test the operation of the sirens and\u00a0confirm the range and coverage\u00a0of the sound.\u00a0The test will provide personnel with an opportunity to\u00a0monitor\u00a0and verify sound levels at various points along Lady Bird Lake and the Colorado River.\u00a0<\/p>\n
If this was\u00a0not a test,\u00a0in the event of\u00a0an actual\u00a0severe weather\u00a0emergency\u00a0requiring the release of storm runoff, the Longhorn Dam floodgate warning sirens would sound\u00a0before\u00a0the floodgates were opened. Increased flows, strong moving\u00a0currents\u00a0and unsafe water conditions\u00a0would\u00a0be present\u00a0and recreational swimming, boating,\u00a0kayaking\u00a0and other water activities should be avoided.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis test is an important part of maintaining our emergency preparedness\u00a0and helps us reach the community quickly in an emergency,\u201d said Stephanie Sue, Austin Water\u00a0Assistant\u00a0Director of\u00a0Operations.\u00a0\u201cWe\u2019re grateful for\u00a0the public\u2019s understanding as we test the sirens and strengthen\u00a0our systems\u00a0and emergency communication tools.\u201d<\/p>\n
Modernization of the floodgate warning sirens began in\u00a02026, with final installation completed in August 2026.<\/p>\n
About Longhorn Dam<\/p>\n
Austin Water manages the operation of Longhorn Dam for the City of Austin. Since taking over operations in\u00a02018, Austin Water has conducted extensive maintenance and improvements to Longhorn Dam\u2019s\u00a0controls\u00a0as well as the mechanical systems that move the various gates controlling water flow.<\/p>\n