Lake Levels
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Low water levels make new lake hazards for boaters We ask boaters to use caution while operating their boats on Lake Amistad. As a result of the record low water levels we are experiencing, there will be an increasing number of islands and peninsulas appearing throughout the lake. Even seasoned boaters who were here in 1998 when the lake reached its' record low of 1058.37 (58.63 feet below conservation level) are not entirely prepared for what may be appearing just below the surface of the lake in the coming weeks and months. An example is the old Devils Lake Dam (at Rough Canyon on the Devils River), constructed in 1928, which as of April 22, 2013 was only sixteen feet below the surface of the lake. The roof of the powerhouse for the old Devils Lake Dam was just starting to appear at the surface of the lake as of April 22, 2013.
Regular camgrounds-- Rough Canyon-- OPEN
Group Campgrounds-- Rock Quarry-- OPEN
Why does the lake level fluctuate? It is normal for water levels at Amistad Reservoir to fluctuate. The reservoir is a man-made pool created to store water and prevent flooding. From 1992-2002, the reservoir dropped and remained low during an extended drought. A tropical storm system in 2003-2004 brought increased rain to southwest Texas and by 2005, the lake was near the conservation pool level of 1117 feet above mean sea level. Water continues to be released from Amistad Dam to provide for municipal use and irrigation for communities downstream along the Rio Grande. |
Did You Know?
The first Southern Transcontinental Railroad was completed in January 1883 by driving a silver spike into the track at a location on the Rio Grande just upriver from the confluence with the Pecos River. More...