Latest news with #JohnHofmann
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
Buchanan Dam Floodgates Open For First Time Since 2019 As Central Texas Lakes Swell
With a reminder of just how much rain Central Texas has received this month, the Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA) opened floodgates at the Buchanan Dam on Monday, marking the first time this has happened since 2019. The LCRA opened up the gates as scheduled, after lakes across the Highland Lakes chain have surged toward capacity, forcing officials to manage rising water levels and inflows from ongoing storms. In an X post published on Monday afternoon, photos from the LCRA show the opened floodgates at Buchanan Dam, allowing excess water to be sent downstream into Inks Lake. Meanwhile, the Wirtz Dam currently has one floodgate open, with another set to follow soon, and the Starcke Dam already has multiple gates open. Because Inks Dam doesn't have floodgates, water there was spilling directly over its concrete lip before flowing into Lake LBJ, Marble Falls, and eventually Lake Travis. Lake Buchanan is now nearly full at 97% capacity, while Lake Travis has climbed more than 29 feet in recent days to reach about 78% capacity. Projections from the LCRA show that both lakes could continue to rise by several feet over the next day if rain persists. 'We Texans love being on the lakes during the summer, but this is not the time and not the place,' said John Hofmann, LCRA executive vice president. 'There continue to be significant flood flows throughout the Highland Lakes, and we strongly advise everyone to stay off the lakes for the next few days.' Alongside powerful currents, debris from recent flooding and higher-than-normal bacteria levels have made conditions even more hazardous for boaters and swimmers in the area. In response, local authorities have closed certain lake areas to recreational use. The City of Marble Falls has temporarily shut down Lake Marble Falls, and Travis County has prohibited recreation on parts of Lake Travis upstream of Mile Marker 36, near Sandy Creek Park. Officials are also now urging residents to monitor lake level updates and floodgate operations in the days ahead, as more gates may be opened if rain continues to pour into the watershed. Real-time lake information and flood updates are available at where the public can also sign up for direct alerts on changing water conditions. For now, officials say patience is key. 'The best and safest course of action is to avoid being in the lakes until things settle down in a few days,' Hofmann added.
Newsweek
10-07-2025
- Climate
- Newsweek
People Urged To Stay Out of Popular Texas Lake After Floods
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Water officials in Texas are urging everyone to remain out of Lake Travis as debris flow and high bacteria levels from the recent floods endanger boaters and swimmers. "Safety is our top priority, and it's not safe to be on the lakes now under the conditions we're seeing," Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA) Executive Vice President of Water John Hofmann said in a press release. "We'll continue to evaluate the lakes daily and will let you know when conditions improve enough for us to remove the advisory." Why It Matters Last weekend, deadly floods surged through Central Texas. Some parts of the state saw more than 20 inches of rain, with the National Weather Service (NWS) attributing the excessive moisture to remnants of Tropical Storm Barry, which formed the weekend prior. Urgent flood warnings were issued across Texas as rivers surged. More than 100 people have died, including 27 campers and counselors at Camp Mystic in Kerr County. More rain fell across the region on Monday. A stock photo shows Lake Travis near Austin, Texas. A stock photo shows Lake Travis near Austin, Texas. RoschetzkylstockPhoto/Getty What To Know Lake Travis, located near Austin, has risen more than 20 feet in less than a week amid torrential rainfall that flooded numerous rivers in the region. The popular Texas reservoir reached its highest point in three years last weekend. The sudden jump in water levels comes as the popular lake has battled years of drought. At some points, water levels became so low that they exposed items beneath the lake's surface, such as hidden pecan groves and a concrete plant. Although the lake remains open to the public, LCRA officials are urging swimmers and boaters to remain out of Lake Travis and the other highland lakes until conditions improve following the floods. "LCRA strongly advises people to stay out of the Highland Lakes for the next few days to avoid flood debris, fast-moving flows and bacteria levels that traditionally increase after a flood event," the most recent flood operations report said. The rate of increase has slowed, but water levels continue to rise. Similar large jumps have been seen throughout Lake Travis' history, as the reservoir is in Texas' Flash Flood Alley, an LCRA spokesperson told Newsweek. As of Thursday morning, the lake is about 20 feet below its full pool level, which occurs at 681 feet. Once the danger passes, visitors are expected to return as lake levels improve and make recreation more enjoyable. The risk of more rain continues for parts of Central Texas on Thursday. What People Are Saying NWS office in San Angelo, in a Thursday forecast: "There is a Slight Risk of excessive rainfall across much of the area. Additional showers and thunderstorms are likely mainly Saturday night with heavy rainfall resulting in possible flash flooding." An LCRA spokesperson told Newsweek: "Lake Travis is a popular lake, and we would expect to see additional visitation at the lake later this summer." What Happens Next Lake Travis levels could continue to rise in the immediate future, but further changes are unclear. "Levels in Lake Travis later this summer will depend on a combination of heat and wind, water usage in Central Texas and if/where we see continued rainfall in watershed," the spokesperson told Newsweek.
Newsweek
08-07-2025
- Climate
- Newsweek
Texas Reservoir Water Levels Hit Highest Point in 3 Years
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Lake Travis water levels jumped 20 feet in four days after torrential downpours battered Central Texas over the weekend. The sudden rise in water levels comes as the popular Texas reservoir near Austin has battled years of drought. Prior to the onslaught of rain, the lake was only 43 percent full, according to Water Data for Texas. Now, the lake is 65 percent full. Newsweek reached out to the Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA), which manages the reservoir, by email for comment. Travis Lake near Austin Texas in 2019 during a drought with the waterline way down - view from above with marinas and buildings and a water tower on shore under stormy sky. Travis Lake near Austin Texas in 2019 during a drought with the waterline way down - view from above with marinas and buildings and a water tower on shore under stormy sky. Susan Vineyard/iStockphoto/Getty Why It Matters Over the weekend, deadly floods surged through Central Texas. Some parts of the state saw more than 20 inches of rain, with the National Weather Service (NWS) attributing the excessive moisture to remnants of Tropical Storm Barry, which formed the weekend prior. Urgent flood warnings were issued across Texas as rivers surged. More than 100 people have died, including 27 campers and counselors at Camp Mystic in Kerr County, Texas. More rain fell across the region on Monday. What to Know The water levels of many rivers have since receded, with no rivers in moderate or major flood stage on Tuesday morning, according to the National Water Center. However, Lake Travis levels continue to rise. The sudden change comes as the lake has been gripped by a years-long drought, causing its water levels to fall dramatically and altering both the landscape and recreational patterns around the reservoir. Frequently, the lake has been less than half full, exposing areas and long-submerged objects rarely seen, such as hidden pecan groves and abandoned structures. The persistent drought was driven by a combination of extreme heat, prolonged dry spells, and fluctuating rainfall patterns across Texas. Over the past several summers, the region experienced brutal heatwaves that lowered water tables in lakes, reservoirs, and rivers. Although meteorologists have noted that wet periods—at times tied to the El Niño climate pattern—occasionally brought temporary relief, drought remained across the region. Sporadic heavy downpours in 2024 helped raise Lake Travis water levels last summer, but then the lake continued its steady decline. Evaporation is the source of the largest depletion at the lake, said John Hofmann, executive vice president of the LCRA. "The evaporation rates in our area use as much water as the city of Austin," Hofmann said, according to a report by CBS Austin. Experts point out that aside from weather fluctuations, human factors such as population growth and increased water consumption also put pressure on Lake Travis. During times of drought, Texans across the region are urged to limit their water use, such as what is used in landscaping. "What you can control is your discretionary water use. Continue to focus on the need for conservation measures as we go into the summertime. And I think increasingly given the growth that we see in our area, conservation needs to be a way of life," Hofmann said in the CBS Austin report. However, more than water surged into Lake Travis over the weekend. Local meteorologists warned boaters against venturing into the lake as a debris mass from the floods moved towards the reservoir. What People Are Saying CBS Austin meteorologist Avery Tomasco posted on X on Friday: "The LCRA now says that all 10 floodgates may need to open overnight at Starcke Dam to pass flood water down to Lake Travis. That's a LOT of water moving through LBJ and Marble Falls. Lots of debris will be flowing quickly. I'd hold off on boating for the rest of the weekend." LCRA said in a flood operation report for the Highland Lakes, which includes Lake Travis: "LCRA strongly advises people to stay out of the Highland Lakes for the next few days to avoid flood debris, fast-moving flows and bacteria levels that traditionally increase after a flood event." What Happens Next Although Lake Travis water levels are still rising, the rate at which they are increasing has started to slow. Although brief surges in moisture can temporarily alleviate water levels, Lake Travis is still 22 feet below its full pool, which happens at 681 feet. Recurring cycles of drought and flood are expected to continue changing the water levels of the lake.
Yahoo
08-07-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Austin bans use of waterways as flash flooding emergency continues
AUSTIN (KXAN) — The City of Austin is closing all area waterways due to the ongoing threat of catastrophic flooding. Effective immediately, all personal and commercial watercraft are prohibited on Austin waterways. That includes Lady Bird Lake, Barton Creek, Bull Creek, Lake Austin (from Mansfield Dam to Tom Miller Dam), the Colorado River downstream of Longhorn Dam, and surrounding creeks and streams. Banned watercraft include canoes, kayaks, paddleboards, wet bikes, motorized surfboards and similar devices. The restriction will remain in effect until noon Monday, July 7. The city is also urging people to stay off riverfront trails and move to higher ground, warning that flash flooding can cause water levels to rise quickly. Separately, the Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA) is asking people to stay off Lake Travis, LBJ and Marble Falls for the next few days. Officials say flood debris, fast-moving water and elevated bacteria levels pose serious risks — especially at night. 'We want people to stay safe, and the wise decision under these conditions is to avoid being on these lakes at this time. This is especially important at night when visibility is reduced, as some of the navigational buoys that help guide boaters have been damaged or destroyed in the flooding,' said John Hofmann, LCRA executive vice president of Water. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
