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Lake Travis tops 100% capacity, prompting first Mansfield Dam gate release since 2019
FOX Weather • • nation
Key Points:
- Lake Travis in Texas has exceeded 100% capacity due to days of heavy rain, leading to the first Mansfield Dam floodgate release in seven years to manage rising water levels.
- Floodwaters are severely impacting low-lying shoreline communities, with areas like Graveyard Point experiencing flooding that has submerged patios and is encroaching on living spaces.
- The Hill Country region faced historic rainfall with up to two feet of rain in three days, resulting in multiple water rescues, two fatalities, and the collapse of the FM 481 bridge in Uvalde County.
- Lake Travis water levels reached approximately 683.65 feet above mean sea level, about 2.6 feet above full capacity but still 30 feet below the emergency spillway crest, prompting floodgate operations to control the flood pool.
- Tropical Storm Bertha is moving through the Gulf, expected to bring gusty winds and scattered rain to parts of Texas, though heavy flooding rains are not anticipated in areas still recovering from recent floods.
