Lake Texoma May Make History…AGAIN!

Heavy rain has been falling across the area today due to Tropical Depression Bill. Many locations have picked up 3-8″ of rain, and more is on the way for parts of northern Texas and southern/eastern Oklahoma. This heavy rain could, and likely will, send Lake Texoma over its spillway, yet again, for the second time in a month; due to heavy rainfall within the Texoma watershed. If the lake goes over the spillway (at 640 feet), it would be historic because the lake has only gone over the spillway four times (1957, 1990, 2007, and 2015) since the dam was finished in 1944. The most recent flood, May 2015, set an all time record high elevation of over 645.72 feet.

Lake Texoma Exceeding Spillway:

For those of you who aren’t familiar with Lake Texoma, let me introduce you. Lake Texoma is the 12th largest lake of the US Army Corps of Engineers, and is sprawled out across parts of northern Texas and southern Oklahoma–just an hour north of Dallas. The lake was originally established for flood mitigation; however, the lake has now become a recreational “hotspot” with more than 6,000,000 visitors per year. So to say the least, this lake is very important and popular!

Popular Summer Island On Lake Texoma:

The level of the lake has risen from 637.69 feet this morning to a current level of 638.29 feet–and is continuing to rise. The lake goes over the spillway once the water exceeds 640 feet, so we are literally inching closer. With all of the aforementioned rainfall in the watershed of Lake Texoma, I would not be surprised to see the lake make history once again, and go over the spillway over the next couple of days.