BRA: Lake Granbury declared unsafe due to debris

The Brazos River Authority has declared Lake Granbury unsafe due to debris in the water.

Because of recent major rain events where huge flows of water are moving downstream in Texas reservoirs, an individual’s risk is highly increased due to debris in the water and fluctuating lake levels that expose stumps and other hazards.

According to the BRA’s post on Facebook Wednesday morning, tubing and skiing are “especially unsafe now.” Many floating logs are visible, others are floating just below the water surface.

“The BRA strongly recommends that you do not go out on the lake at this time,” the post reads. “We understand the inconvenience you may feel, but your safety and that of first responders is paramount.”

It may take up to two weeks before Lake Granbury is clear of debris, making it safe for individuals to go back in the lake at that time, according to BRA officials.

PK GATE UPDATE

As of 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, June 8, the third gate at Possum Kingdom was been closed and BRA officials said Wednesday, June 9, that they plan to keep the two other gates open for the next couple of days.

With the increase of rainfall early this week, BRA opened a third gate at Possum Kingdom Lake’s Morris Sheppard Dam on Monday, releasing about 28,400 cubic feet per second (cfs) of water.

“If we don’t open the gates and there’s so much water still coming in, we take a chance at the dam failing,” said Judi Pierce, spokesperson for the Brazos River Authority. “We’re releasing just over 28,000 cubic feet per second to accommodate what’s flowing in. And normally, our goal is to release the same amount that’s coming in, but there’s so much rain right now and so much runoff coming into the lake that we have to do more just to keep it at a full level and not having runoff over the top of the gate.”

As of 7:30 a.m. on Thursday, June 10, Possum Kingdom Lake’s Morris Sheppard Dam is releasing 17,700 cfs of water and Lake Granbury DeCordova Dam is releasing 26,600 cfs of water.

Jay Webster, Hood County’s emergency management coordinator, talked to residents living on the lakefront Shoreline Court north of Granbury on Monday and told them that 24 to 36 hours from then, water would potentially be running into their yard and possibly in some of the houses.

Fortunately, Shoreline Court residents did not experience flooding in their homes due to the opening of the third gate at Possum Kingdom.

On Thursday morning, Webster gave an update on the Shoreline Court residents. He said, “Roads are still underwater, but no homes were flooded. Water is starting to recede.”