AUSTIN | Projects & Construction III

[clubtokyo]

Good info Austar!

[AviationGuy]

Originally Posted by austlar1

The Colorado River flows through Austin. There are several dams and spillways creating lakes that pass through Austin. The lake located downtown was formerly known as Town Lake. It was re-named Lady Bird Lake after Lady Bird Johnson died several years ago. I still call it Town Lake, as do many others. Anyway, water is kept at a constant level in this lake and also in Lake Austin, which is just upstream. Both lakes can produce minor flooding, especially Lake Austin, but usually water is released downstream to prevent major flooding. It is a complicated process controlled by the Lower Colorado River Authority, but there has not been a major flood on these lakes in recent times. One creek (Shoal Creek), which feeds into Town Lake, can and does flash flood on a fairly regular basis, resulting in high water in some businesses on the west end of downtown along Lamar Blvd.

Correct...no major flood on the river in the city in recent times. Wasn't there a major flood in the 30s or one of those early decades? I remember seeing a photo of a house floating down the river within the city.

[austlar1]

Originally Posted by AviationGuy

Correct...no major flood on the river in the city in recent times. Wasn't there a major flood in the 30s or one of those early decades? I remember seeing a photo of a house floating down the river within the city.

Before Mansfield Dam and Lake Travis were created around 1940 (I think the other Highland Lakes behind Lake Travis came later), there was regular flooding in the area immediately south of downtown on the southern banks of the original river bed. Downtown is situated on higher ground and was not subject to flooding. There were major floods in the 20s and maybe again sometime in the early 1930s.

[clubtokyo]

Good information!

[drummer]

Aren't there areas near Red Bud Isle Park where the original dam (that preceded Tom Miller Dam)? That one burst with a major flood at some point - perhaps the one in the 30s?

[hookem]

Originally Posted by drummer

Aren't there areas near Red Bud Isle Park where the original dam (that preceded Tom Miller Dam)? That one burst with a major flood at some point - perhaps the one in the 30s?

Yes, part of Red Bud Isle is remnants of the previous 2 dams, the rest are encased in the concrete of Tom Miller Dam (the second part I did not know):

The remaining portions of the 1893 and 1912 dams were incorporated into the new structure, but are now hidden under new layers of concrete. By the time it was finished, however, Tom Miller Dam was already overshadowed by the much larger LCRA dams built upstream at Lake Travis (Mansfield Dam) and Lake Buchanan (Buchanan Dam), which for the last seventy years have provided water, hydroelectric power, and flood control for Central Texas.

(from https://notevenpast.org/rise-and-fall-austin-dam/)

[clubtokyo]

Does anyone know the story behind the depth/width of lady bird lake? How was it determined?

[hookem]

Originally Posted by clubtokyo

Does anyone know the story behind the depth/width of lady bird lake? How was it determined?

That is a great question. I don't know the answer, other than (from my experience boating/kayaking/SUP boarding) Ladybird Lake is very shallow for most of it's width. It's not LCRA controlled like Lake Austin and the Highland Lakes upstream, yet the level is kept at a steady 428 ft ASL. Realistically that translates to about a depth of 4' or so in most places (you can stand up) except the original riverbed where it may be significantly deeper but only for a narrow width. Problem is that original riverbed meanders underneath where you see the water cover, so the deeper portions may be anywhere under the surface. Plus you have the Seaholm intakes. So drowning can and does occur despite the fact it is much more shallow in most places than you would expect.

[clubtokyo]

Thanks for all the info!

[clubtokyo]

Another great shot of our beautiful city!

[clubtokyo]

.

[gardensoul]

skyline from Zilker

[Dariusb]

Such a beautiful city!

[AviationGuy]

Tom, I didn't know you were a photographer until I saw some postings here. Really, really nice photo of the skyline (and different from what we usually see).

[gardensoul]

Originally Posted by AviationGuy

Tom, I didn't know you were a photographer until I saw some postings here. Really, really nice photo of the skyline (and different from what we usually see).

Thank you! Re: this view, yes - I am surprised we don't see this more often. It was taken behind the garden center building in Zilker.

[kingkirbythe....]

Originally Posted by gardensoul

skyline from Zilker

Austin isn’t so old as to need vaseline on the camera lens yet? Or maybe it is.

[gardensoul]

Originally Posted by kingkirbythe....

Austin isn’t so old as to need vaseline on the camera lens yet? Or maybe it is.

I guess I used my selfie editing technique ;-)

[kingkirbythe....]

Originally Posted by gardensoul

I guess I used my selfie editing technique ;-)

Hahaha! Austin, the Barbra Streisand of cities.

[clubtokyo]

Great photo!

[Jdawgboy]

Originally Posted by AviationGuy

Correct...no major flood on the river in the city in recent times. Wasn't there a major flood in the 30s or one of those early decades? I remember seeing a photo of a house floating down the river within the city.

In terms of what we saw pre daming times that is true, however the Colorado River has overflowed it's banks twice in the last 8 years. The first time since the dam's were built. 2013 and 2015.