From: LCRA
Sent: Sunday, July 13, 2025 3:03 PM
Subject: Flood Operations Report Update, Sunday, July 13th, 2025
Good afternoon;
LCRA has updated the Flood Operations Report located here:
https://hydromet.lcra.org/floodstatus
Last Update: Jul 13 2025 2:59PM
LCRA has opened one floodgate at Wirtz Dam and multiple floodgates at Starcke Dam to release storm runoff flowing into Lake LBJ. Conditions are dynamic, and it is possible LCRA may need to open additional floodgates throughout the day Sunday. Flows are faster and water levels are higher than usual downstream of the dams. Please take action to protect people and property that may be affected.
The runoff is flowing from Lake LBJ into Lake Marble Falls through Wirtz Dam and will flow from Lake Marble Falls through Starcke Dam into Lake Travis.
As inflows from weekend rains upstream of the Highland Lakes make their way into Lake Buchanan, it is possible LCRA may need to open one or more floodgates at Buchanan Dam. Lake Buchanan is full at 1020 feet above mean sea level, and LCRA would need to open at least one floodgate at the dam to maintain a water surface elevation of 1020 ft msl or below. Current forecasts indicate there is a possibility LCRA may need to open a floodgate at Buchanan Dam Monday afternoon. We will post any updates on this webpage as soon as they become available. See the Managing Floods in Flash Flood Alley webpage for a map of the Highland Lakes and additional information about LCRA flood operations.
If LCRA opens a floodgate at Buchanan Dam, the releases would be passed downstream though Inks Lake and lakes LBJ and Marble Falls into Lake Travis, the only lake in the Highland Lakes with room to store floodwaters. Moving the floodwater from Lake Buchanan downstream would require water to flow over the spillway at Inks Dam, which does not have any floodgates, and to be released though floodgates at Wirtz Dam, which creates Lake LBJ, and Starcke Dam, which creates Lake Marble Falls.
On Sunday, July 13, Travis County Judge Andy Brown updated his order related to the closing of Lake Travis. The updated order bans all recreational use of the waterways in Lake Travis upstream of mile marker 36 and upstream of Sandy Creek Park. The ban does not apply to commercial operators, emergency responders or representatives of local and state agencies. LCRA is advising anyone on the other Highland Lakes to avoid the lakes at night and to use extra caution during the day due to flood debris and elevated bacteria levels from recent flood. See the July 10 news release.