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There’s more than one reason lake levels fluctuate


If you live near or visited one of the three Brazos River Authority reservoirs, you’ve probably noticed the lake level at different heights.

But why is that?

Why isn’t the lake level consistent?

Why are the gates open at the dam?

Why does the lake seem so high when there hasn’t been rain?

Or more common, why is the lake level low?

It’s a frequent topic for those living on or visiting the reservoirs in the Brazos River basin. Despite a common misconception, there are few “constant level lakes” in Texas and none in the Brazos River Authority System of water supply reservoirs, which is made up of 11 reservoirs.

It’s normal for the levels of man-made lakes to fluctuate for a few reasons. Though many people assume the worst, there are simple answers to these questions, and the BRA would like to help.

The BRA hired Washington D.C.-based Flying Colors Broadcasts to produce this educational video. The company visited each of the BRA-owned and operated reservoirs capturing awe-inspiring footage of Possum Kingdom Lake’s Morris Sheppard Dam, Lake Limestone’s Sterling C. Robertson Dam, and Lake Granbury’s DeCordova Bend Dam. Members of the BRA management team and reservoir managers were interviewed at each location, sharing thoughts and insights.

The BRA also has other responsibilities of which those who frequent the lake might not be aware. Check out our video highlighting the BRA’s other responsibilities here. And don’t forget to watch our video showing how each gate operates at our dams here.