FORT WORTH, Texas – Following a careful evaluation of the forecasted inflow totals to Sam Rayburn Reservoir, along with the current reduced flows in the Neches River Basin, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Fort Worth District Water Management Section has determined surcharge releases from Sam Rayburn Power Plant will increase beginning at noon on Saturday, June 6, with power generation releases 24 hours per day, seven days per week until further notice. This is a change to the current operation, in which power generation has only been for six hours per day since Tuesday, June 2. At this time, all releases will be made through one generator only and not through the flood gates.
Lake and Hydropower Management, in coordination with Water Resources Management Branch engineers, will continue to monitor forecasted rainfall, lake elevations, and upper watershed runoff for any potential changes in flood releases. If it becomes necessary to make releases greater than downstream control points/river channel capacity, notification will be made to all downstream Emergency Management officials as stated in Emergency Action Plans.
Latest lake levels and water release information may be viewed at http://www.swf-wc.usace.army.mil/cgi-bin/rcshtml.pl?page=Reports&report=fish, facility closure report may be viewed at http://www.swf-wc.usace.army.mil/drought/drought.htm and the National Weather Service River Forecast Center downstream gage forecasts may be viewed at http://www.srh.noaa.gov/wgrfc/.
For additional information about our lake operations, please call the Sam Rayburn Lake office at 409-384-5716 or 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
Release no. 15-037