Multiple floodgates opened Monday afternoon, according to the Lower Colorado River Authority.
LLANO, Texas — For the first time in more than six years, several floodgates opened Buchanan Dam.
On Monday, the Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA) stated that four floodgates opened. This comes after recent flooding has impacted much of Central Texas, including in Llano County.
This marks the first time that the Buchanan Dam floodgates have opened since 2019, as Lake Buchanan is currently just two feet away from reaching full capacity. As of Monday morning, the lake’s elevation was at roughly 1018 feet of a 1020 foot maximum–or 97% full.
The lake has increased by 16 feet since Thursday, July 3, and the LCRA said it could rise by at least one more foot throughout the next day. Water levels have also gone up in Lake Travis, creating combined totals of about 86% capacity in both waterways.
Water released from Lake Buchanan eventually passes through Inks Lake, Lake LBJ, Marble Falls and into Lake Travis.
During this time, the LCRA also advises people to stay away from the Highland Lakes, which includes Buchanan as well as Travis, Marble Falls, Inks and LBJ lakes. The waters could see high levels of bacteria and debris as a result of recent flooding.
One floodgate is currently open at Wirtz Dam, and several are also open on Starcke Dam (both of which are located in Burnet County) as of Monday.
How tall is Buchanan Dam?
According to the LCRA, Buchanan Dam is roughly 145.5 feet high and more than 10,000 feet long. It includes 37 floodgates and three turbines.
The dam sits on Lake Buchanan, which has an elevation of 1,020 feet Mean Sea Level (or height above sea level) when it’s completely filled. The lake’s highest level on record was 1,021.4 feet MSL in December 1990, with a low record of 983.7 in September 1952.