LCRA Opens Gates at Wirtz and Starcke Dams to Manage Llano River Inflows
The Lower Colorado River Authority is routing excess water from the Hill Country toward Lake Travis, which may reach its full capacity within two days.
By Luana Sato ·
The Lower Colorado River Authority opened floodgates at two dams in the Highland Lakes system on Tuesday morning to manage rising water levels. As of that time, one gate was open at Wirtz Dam on Lake LBJ, and two gates were open at Starcke Dam on Lake Marble Falls.
Heavy rainfall west of the lakes increased flows in the Llano River, which feeds into Lake LBJ. The agency is using the open gates to move this additional water through the system and into Lake Travis. LCRA projections indicate Lake Travis will rise to between 680 and 681 feet above sea level within the next 24 to 48 hours. The lake is considered full at 681 feet.
Lake Travis serves as a primary water supply reservoir with extra capacity to store floodwater. By contrast, Lake LBJ and Lake Marble Falls are pass-through lakes that experience rapid water level changes during heavy runoff. The LCRA does not anticipate opening gates at Mansfield Dam on Lake Travis, Buchanan Dam, Tom Miller Dam on Lake Austin, or Bastrop Dam. Water is also not expected to flow over the spillway at Inks Dam.
Officials warned that conditions can change quickly as additional runoff moves through the watershed. The LCRA urged residents and property owners near affected waterways to remain alert and take precautions to protect their property. Current lake levels, river conditions, and floodgate operations are available through the LCRA’s Hydromet system.
