Denison -- All eyes are on Lake Texoma as one of the largest reservoirs in the U.S. slowly approaches the 640-ft. mark and sends water over its emergency spillway for the fourth time in the lake's 71-year history.
According to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the elevation of Lake Texoma at 9:00 p.m. Saturday, May 23 was 639.44 feet and rising, with the pool forecasted to rise to 640 by Sunday, May 25 and crest at 640.3 on May 26, unless additional rainfall alters the forecast.
The Corps reports that releases through both hydropower generators are being made at full capacity (9,000 cfs). A release through three flood conduits is being made at 36,000 cfs total. The aggregate release from Lake Texoma, including the generators and flood conduits, is 45,000 cfs.
On Saturday, crowds flocked to Denison Dam where DPS and local law enforcement officials directed traffic.
Lake Texoma went over the spillway in 1957, 1990 and in 2007 the lake reached its highest elevation of 644.36.
Construction on the 89,000-acre lake was completed in 1944 and Denison Dam was the largest rolled, earthfilled dam in the U.S. at the time. Lake Texoma was built to mitigate flood damage on Red River, as well as to generate hydroelectric power.
photos by Allen Rich