FORT WORTH, Texas – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Fort Worth District, in keeping with its flood risk management charter, continues to monitor recent flooding at Lake O’ the Pines and the Cypress Basin in Texas. Lake O’ the Pines is receiving floodwater runoff from recent storms and is currently operating in flood pool, releasing approximately 3,000 cubic feet per second with an elevation of 239.61 feet as of 10:30 a.m.
Fort Worth District will release water from Lake O’ the Pines when the flow of Big Cypress Bayou at Karnack is below 7,000 cubic feet per second or when the Lake O’ the Pines water level exceeds 236 feet. As of this morning, the flow at Karnack was 39,000 cubic feet per second. Based on current runoff upstream of Lake O’ the Pines, the reservoir is expected to crest near 242 feet on or about 14 March. Visit the Fort Worth District Water Management Section Web Site at http://www.swf-wc.usace.army.mil for updated information.
Due to the increased reservoir elevations, several park and boat ramps are closed to ensure public safety. For a current list of closures please visit: http://www.swf-wc.usace.army.mil/lake/lakefacilities.htm .
The Corps of Engineers urges boaters to wear life jackets and use caution while navigating. Floodwaters have created unfamiliar boating conditions and increased flows into the reservoir have flushed a large amount of debris into the main body of water. Boaters are reminded to CLEAN, DRAIN AND DRY YOUR BOAT, TRAILER AND GEAR! Please avoid or minimize boat travel through any mats of vegetation to limit the spread of invasive species, and visit http://www.texasinvasives.org/ for more information.
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Release no. 16-018