LCRA announces historic flooding and encourages those affected to take action

The Highland Lakes watershed is experiencing historic flooding. This is a serious situation and people should take action to protect people and property.

Also:
-- Four floodgates are open at Mansfield Dam. Current projections show LCRA likely will need to open up to four additional floodgates by mid-day Thursday – for a total of up to eight gates open at the dam. This would be a record number of floodgates open at Mansfield Dam. 
-- LCRA encourages everyone who may be affected by the current flooding on the Highland Lakes and rising levels downstream of Lake Travis to take immediate action to keep themselves and their property safe. 
-- Releases from Lake Travis will cause higher levels in Lake Austin, Lady Bird Lake and the Colorado River downstream of Austin. Water released from Mansfield Dam will travel down the Colorado River to Matagorda Bay. Under typical conditions, water released from Mansfield Dam would take about one day to get to Bastrop, two days to Columbus, four days to get to Wharton and five-plus days to reach Matagorda. Travel times will be faster because we're in a flood.
-- LCRA opened four additional floodgates at Buchanan Dam this morning, bringing the total number of floodgates open at Buchanan Dam to eight.
-- Flood operations continue at Buchanan, Inks, Wirtz, Starcke, Mansfield and Tom Miller dams. Flows throughout the Highland Lakes are swift and high.
-- LCRA has closed lakes Buchanan, Inks, LBJ, Marble Falls and Travis until further notice.
-- See LCRA's Flood Operations Report for more on current conditions on the Highland Lakes.
-- Check LCRA's Hydromet for rainfall totals, stream flow and lake levels.