FORT WORTH, Texas – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Fort Worth District, in keeping with its flood risk reduction charter, has begun releasing water from the flood pool at Lake O’ the Pines. While upstream runoff from recent storms is receding, Lake O’ the Pines level is still rising. The lake level as of 8 a.m. this morning was 236.28 feet, and based on current inflow it is expected to crest near 237 feet.
Floodwaters are being released in order to regain flood storage for future flooding events; Fort Worth District began releasing water from Lake O’ the Pines today at a rate of 300 cubic feet per second. Releases will then increase each day until approximately 3,000 cfs is achieved by Friday. Based on current conditions, streamflow in Big Cypress Bayou at Karnack is expected to decrease to around 7,000 cfs by the time releases from Lake O’ the Pines reach that location. Lake O’ the Pines floodwater releases will continue as safety permits: however it may take several weeks for the lake level to return to conservation pool.
The Corps of Engineers is concerned for public safety, and urges boaters to wear life jackets and use caution while navigating. Floodwaters have created unfamiliar boating conditions, changed shorelines, and submerged objects such as picnic tables, signs, and debris. Visit the Fort Worth District Web site at www.swf.usace.army.mil or Reservoir Control’s Web Site at http://www.swf-wc.usace.army.mil for the latest lake levels.
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About the Fort Worth District: The Fort Worth District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers was established in 1950. The District is responsible for water resources development in two-thirds of Texas, and design and construction at military installations in Texas and parts of Louisiana and New Mexico. Visit the Fort Worth District Web site at:
www.swf.usace.army.mil and SWF Facebook at:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Fort-Worth-District-US-Army-Corps-of-Engineers/188083711219308.
Release no. 15-014