As we head into spring and what traditionally is the wettest time of year in the Hill Country, the Lower Colorado River Authority encourages everyone who may be affected by flooding along the Highland Lakes or lower Colorado River to sign up for free notifications of LCRA flood operations.
LCRA’S Flood Operations Notification Service (LCRA FONS) will call, text and/or email subscribers when flood operations begin at dams along the Highland Lakes or at Bastrop Dam in Bastrop County.
“The Highland Lakes sit in the middle of Flash Flood Alley, and flooding along the lakes and lower Colorado River can occur without much advance notice,” said John Hofmann, LCRA executive vice president of Water. “We’re blessed to have full lakes this spring, and rain in the watershed could prompt us to move to flood operations very quickly. We encourage everyone to be prepared for the possibility of flooding, and to subscribe to LCRA FONS to help stay aware of changing conditions along the Highland Lakes and lower Colorado River.”
The LCRA FONS system will be activated when flood operations are imminent or underway at Buchanan, Inks, Wirtz, Starcke, Mansfield, Tom Miller or Bastrop dams. Inks Dam does not have floodgates and is designed for floodwaters to pass over its spillway; LCRA FONS is activated for Inks Dam when water flows continuously over the designated spillway. LCRA FONS is not a flood warning system.
When flood operations begin at the dams, flows downstream will be higher and swifter, and anyone nearby should exercise caution and take measures to protect people and property.
To register for LCRA FONS, complete the online registration form at
lcra.org/FONS or call LCRA at
512-578-3246. The online registration takes about two minutes. Subscriptions will remain valid through March 31, 2019. (All subscriptions in place as of March 31, 2017, have been extended through March 31, 2019.)
For more information, visit
lcra.org/FONS.
About LCRA
The Lower Colorado River Authority serves customers and communities throughout Texas by managing the lower Colorado River; generating and transmitting electric power; ensuring a clean, reliable water supply; and offering access to nature at more than 40 parks, recreation areas and river access sites along the Texas Colorado River, from the Hill Country to the Gulf Coast. LCRA and its employees are committed to enhancing the lives of Texans through water stewardship, energy and community services. LCRA was created by the Texas Legislature in 1934.
Media contact:
Clara Tuma 512-578-3292
clara.tuma@lcra.org
Source: LCRA Business News
