With the huge amount of rain the Lake Travis catch basin has collected recently, floodgates on most Highland Lakes are open.  Mansfield Dam has 4 floodgates open.  Check out what the sight looks like below.

Mansfield Dam open floodgates distant

4 open floodgates on Mansfield Dam - June 27, 2007

Rain has been falling for more than a week and the Marble Falls area, about 45 minutes upstream from the dam, got over 19 inches of rain in one 24 hour period.  That send Lake Travis up a foot an hour yearly yesterday according to the LCRA, which manages the lakes.

This place always draws a crowd.  If you look in the lower left part of the first photo you will see people standing behind a chain link fence topped with barbed wire.  The last time I saw the floodgates open the fence wasn't there.  Safety first - thanks LCRA.

With the floodgates on Mansfield Dam open, the water going through Lake Austin is higher and rapid so that lake is closed.  Tw floodgates are open also that are dumping water from Lake Austin into Town Lake, so that lake is also running fast.  Lake Travis is closed any time significant flash flooding occurs because or debris in the water and also because of higher bacteria levels.  There is no swimming or boating allowed on any of these lakes right now.