The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers takes Flood Risk Management measures to ensure Public Safety on the Upper Trinity River

Published May 29, 2015

FORT WORTH, Texas – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Fort Worth District has heightened its flood risk management operations to ensure the public’s safety in and around the North Texas Area. 

Heavy rainfall continues in the Upper Trinity River Basin and has resulted in the eight Corps of Engineer lakes in the basin to be in flood pool operations. Six of those eight are or soon may be in surcharge operations.  A surcharge operation occurs when the flood pool is full.  Any additional rain in the water sheds of Ray Roberts and Lewisville Lakes will cause spillway activation at Ray Roberts and potential for Lewisville to rise above the 537 foot elevation. The 537 foot elevation is the 100 year flood event, the elevation where the Corps owns fee or flowage easements to store flood water.   

While the Corps is taking every possible measure to avoid flooding, there is an area of concern with the potential of activation of the spillway at Ray Roberts. This would be the first time the spillway will be used at Ray Roberts and flows from the spillway has the potential to cause flooding along Culp Branch as the water rejoins the Elm Fork near Clear Creek.

The Corps has made the decision to make full flood releases at Ray Roberts in order to lessen the probability of spillway activation at Ray Roberts. These flows will continue downstream into Lewisville Lake where releases are being monitored to be increased as channel capacity allows through Dallas.

“The Corps will continue to monitor and use every resource available to help prevent further flooding downstream.  This could result in higher than normal releases from the reservoirs but the Corps will do everything possible not to cause damages downstream,” said Lt. Col. Clay Morgan, acting commander, Fort Worth District.

Corps dam safety personnel continue around the clock inspections and surveillance of the dams, instrumentation and other facilities at the lakes.  District personnel in the Corps’ Water Resources Management Branch are closely monitoring inflows, lake elevations, downstream conditions and staying in close communication with downstream entities to ensure they make the best decision on any flood releases. 

“The public should be assured that our lakes continue to function as designed, that inspections and instrumentation readings are being closely monitored and that everything is working as it is supposed to,” added Morgan.

 

As of 1:30 p.m. on May 29, 2015 on the Trinity River Basin the Corps of Engineer Lakes status is:

Bardwell Lake, currently near surcharge operations at 438.55 feet.  Normal pool is 421.

Benbrook Lake, currently in flood pool at 705.64.  Normal pool is 694.

Grapevine Lake, currently in flood pool at 557.66. Normal pool is 535.

Joe Pool Lake, currently in surcharge operations at 536.72 feet. Normal pool is 522.

Lavon Lake, currently in surcharge operations at 503.57 feet. Normal pool is 492.

Lewisville Lake, currently in surcharge operations at 535.24 feet. Normal pool is 522.

Navarro Mills Lake, currently in flood pool at 440.51 feet. Normal pool is 424.5.

Ray Roberts Lake, currently in surcharge operations at 643.69 feet. Normal pool is 632.5.

Latest lake levels may be viewed at http://www.swf-wc.usace.army.mil/cgi-bin/rcshtml.pl?page=Reports&report=fish and facility closure report may be viewed at http://www.swf-wc.usace.army.mil/drought/drought.htm

For additional information about our lake operations, please call the Fort Worth District’s Public Affairs Office at 817-886-1306.

 

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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 Face book at: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Fort-Worth-District-US-Army-Corps-of-Engineers/188083711219308


Contact
Clay Church
817-886-1314
clayton.a.church@usace.army.mil

Release no. 15-030