(May 26, 2008)—Residents headed to the lake this weekend can expect brimming conditions, but some parks and facilities remain closed at Central Texas lakes because of damage from flooding last year.

Because of rainfall from last year and downpours across much of Texas in recent weeks, many of the state’s lakes have plenty of water.

Barney Austin with the Texas Water Development Board says the whole state is in pretty good condition.

Austin, who's director of surface water resources, says lake levels are really good for recreation activities so far this year and will probably continue through the summer.

The Associated Press reports of the 109 lakes the Texas Water Development Board monitors in its monthly reports, 83 were at 90 percent capacity or fuller.

There are a few exceptions.

The board says some lakes in the High Plains, Low Rolling Plains, Southern and Trans-Pecos remain below normal levels.

Park and Facilities Closures
(Source: Army Corps of Engineer)

Belton – Westcliff Park/boat ramp is closed due to flood damage. North end of Rogers Park is closed due to high water. Courtesy docks at Westcliff and Sparta Valley are closed. All other facilities open.

Stillhouse Hollow - Boat ramp and fishing dock area only is open at Union Grove Park; all of Dana Peak Park is closed indefinitely due to complete flood destruction of all park facilities; courtesy docks closed at River’s Bend and Cedar Gap; some trail bridges closed in Chalk Ridge Falls. All other facilities open. Restrooms in many places are now temporary porta-potties.

Waco Lake – Reynolds Creek Bank Fishing Area closed due to lake level, should open June, dependent on weather. Courtesy dock also closed. Twin Bridges Day Use Area & Airport Park Campground are closed, scheduled to open June 15th. Koehne Park will be closed May 12th only for fishing pier removal & courtesy dock repair. Sites 1-4 in Speegleville Campground are closed.

Whitney Lake - The campground in Kimball Bend is closed for construction, but the boat ramp is open. Courtesy docks are out of service in McCown Valley, Cedar, Steel Creek, Cedron, and Kimball Bend Parks.

Lake Levels
(Source: Texas Water Development Board. Capacity listed in acre feet.)

Full

Lewisville Lake (capacity 543,988)
Grapevine Lake (capacity 164,702)
Cedar Creek Reservoir (capacity 644,686)
Lake Whitney (capacity 553,349)
Ray Roberts (capacity 798,758)
Lake Texoma (capacity 1.18 million)
Lake Livingston (capacity 1.74 million)
Amistad, 122 percent (capacity on Texas side of border lake 1.84 million)
Lake Buchanan, (capacity 824,519)
Lake Tawakoni (capacity 888,126)

Nearly Full

Lake Travis (capacity 1.11 million)
Toledo Bend, 98 percent (capacity 2.2 million)
Possum Kingdom, 96 percent (capacity 540,340)
Lake Granbury, 96 percent (capacity 128,046)
Lake Conroe, 99 percent (capacity 416,188)

Still Struggling

O.H. Ivie in Edwards Plateau, 68 percent (capacity 554,335)
Falcon in South Texas, 62 percent (capacity 1.56 million)
Twin Buttes in Edwards Plateau, 41 percent (capacity 177,850)
Lake Meredith in the High Plains, 8 percent (capacity 500,000)
E.V. Spence in Edwards Plateau, 13 percent (capacity 517,272)
O.C. Fisher in the Edwards Plateau, 0 percent (capacity 79,483)

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