AUSTIN, Texas - Lake Austin may be towards the final stretch of the Highland Lake system, but the Lower Colorado River Authority believes homeowners on the perimeter are not in the clear. It is urging residents around the lake to take necessary action to protect themselves and their property.
- Lake Austin residents not in the clear as of Thursday evening
- Four gates on Mansfield Dam were open Thursday
- Four additional floodgates could be opened
Dena Wood has lived on Lake Austin for almost 20 years.
“The whole reason we live on Lake Austin is because we use the lake. We chose Lake Austin over Lake Travis is because it is constant level. You feel safe from flooding, but you also feel safe from drought,” Wood said.
But what is happening around the Highland Lake is unprecedented. Wood said she is not too concerned about the rising waters, but the lake level, right now, is the highest she has ever seen it.
“We’ve kind of watched the water raise and know that it can be a little messy, but we’ve never taken precautions for flooding before,” Wood said.
But this week, her family did. There is a small beach in the backyard, which sits right on the lake, and Wood said the water is creeping closer. They took the kayaks and floats out on the lake, which she has noticed other people do too.
“If the water does rise, even if it’s only quickly it would be safe from being pushed out on the lake,” she said.
Like most homeowners on Lake Austin, Wood’s family has a dock. They lifted their boat up as high as it could go and brought it closer toward shore. Their pair of jet skis is also tied up to a post. She said neighbors around the area have also been checking in on each other, even stopping by the homes of people who don’t live on the lake full time.
“We’ve been here long enough and seen enough that we’re not too worried that the houses are going to be damaged, we just want to make sure that everybody is safe and that you minimize the damage,” she said.
Wood has seen the recent images out west of people’s property swept away and destroyed. There are currently four gates open at Mansfield Dam, and the LCRA said it is possible they will need to open up to four additional floodgates in the next few days. A total of eight floodgates open would be a record for the dam, and that creates uncertainty.
“We don’t know if the water is going to come up really quickly this far down the lake. I think it’s really important that we all just look out for each other,” Wood said.