lake travis still at 703.08 feet Buchanan still 1018.48. both falling at a are of 3/4 of a foot per day one gate open on Buchanan and 4 on Travis still
2-3 inches of rain expected ......
Mansfield Dam / Lake Travis
Lake Travis reached a peak level of 704.39 on Saturday, October 20. Based on current conditions, LCRA projects that Lake Travis will fall in a range of 703 to 701 feet above mean sea level today and Tuesday. Those projections could change if additional rain falls in the lower Colorado River basin.
There are currently four floodgates open at Mansfield Dam, which forms Lake Travis. LCRA is making controlled releases from the flood pool of Lake Travis to manage river levels downstream of Mansfield Dam. Weather forecasts call for additional rain over the next several days, which could cause a significant increase in storm runoff, which may result in the need to open or close floodgates in the coming days.
Additional rainfall could cause LCRA to need to open up to four additional floodgates at Mansfield Dam to move floodwaters downstream. If that happens, we will alert the public and local officials immediately. Anyone downstream of Mansfield Dam should remain prepared for the potential that additional floodgates may be needed. Please check this page frequently for updates.
Buchanan Dam / Lake Buchanan
One floodgate is open at Buchanan Dam. Flood releases from Lake Buchanan have been reduced as inflows to Lake Buchanan have declined. Based on current conditions, LCRA projects that floodgate operations at Buchanan Dam will continue today and tomorrow, Oct. 22 and 23, to gradually lower Lake Buchanan to near 1,018 feet msl. Forecasts for Lake Buchanan and gate operations at Buchanan Dam may change with additional rainfall.
HYDROLOGY
RIVER RISES ARE LIKELY ACROSS MUCH THE REGION, ESPECIALLY TUESDAY
THROUGH THURSDAY AS WIDESPREAD RAINFALL AND RESULTING RUNOFF CAN BE
EXPECTED. THROUGH WEDNESDAY, ALMOST ALL AREAS CAN EXPECT AT LEAST 1
INCH OF RAIN, WITH MOST AREAS IN STORE FOR 2 TO 3 INCHES OF RAIN. IN
ADDITION, SOME ISOLATED AMOUNTS NEAR 4 INCHES ARE POSSIBLE. RENEWED
RIVER FLOODING CONTINUES TO BE OUR MAIN CONCERN, ESPECIALLY ALONG
THE RIO GRANDE, NUECES, FRIO, LLANO, GUADALUPE, PEDERNALES AND
COLORADO RIVERS.
NO floodgates are open now at Buchanan Dam. This means less water inflow for Lake Travis in a few hours
Buchanan 1018.3 ft Travis 702.45 ft
still expecting 1-3 inches of rain over the basin the next couple of days
meanwhile
Austin issues city-wide boil water notice; calls for action “to avoid running out of water
Last month was the wettest September on record in Texas. Heavy rains last week in Central Texas and the Hill Country led to catastrophic flooding. A high level of debris, silt and mud requires additional filtration that slows the process of getting treated water into the system, according to a city statement.
This is the first time in the utility’s history that a notice of this kind has been issued for the entire system. The notice will be lifted once treatment systems can be stabilized, according to the city statement.
https://www.texastribune.org/2018/10/22/austin-water-boil-water-notice-after-historic-flooding/