Lake Texoma Levels and Impacts
| Flood Pool | 640.0 msl | Top of flood pool |
| Conservation Pool | 617.0 msl | Target lake level for optimum conditions. |
| Seasonal Pool Elevation | 619-615 msl | Target Lake levels vary from January
through December of each year. Typically used as reference point when reporting levels above or below normal. |
| Significant Negative | 612 msl | Approximately 50% of boat launching ramps closed, some boat slips do not have adequate water, boat houses moved. Navigation hazards increase. Economy starts significant decrease. |
| Restricted Operations | 612-607 msl | P.L. 100-71 requires hydroelectric power
generation only be made when it is needed
for rapid response and short term peak
purposes.
Hydroelectric power generation can cause
most of the lake level decreases followed by
Corps release of water through dam gates, municipal, industrial and agriculture water supplies, natural causes such as evaporation and higher temperature levels. |
| Major Negative Economic Impact Occur | Below 612 msl | Most: boat launching ramps are closed or
severely limited, boat houses have to
be moved significant distances stopping
ramp access and electrical service to boats,
other water sports and activities are
severely limited. Boaters ferried to slips.
Major navigation hazards exist.
Access to several recreation areas and
marina/resorts by boat is severely restricted
or stopped.
Boaters, fishermen and others seek other
types of recreation, some permanently.
Some marinas and businesses face
temporary closures or bankruptcies.
Extended layoffs occur.
Hydroelectric power and water supply organizations claim that public laws allow them to remove water from Lake Texoma down to this level. Several parties have strongly objected to this position since the 1980&rsquos when the Lake Texoma Advisory Committee was established by federal law and the Corps. The Corps, SWPA and water users state that &ldquowhile recreation was made an authorized Lake Texoma project purpose by the Water Resources Development Act of 1986 (PL 99-662) and has a place in stakeholder discussions, no storage was allocated to recreation therefore, there is no particular lake level or volume of storage that must be protected or preserved for recreational use. All storage in the conservation pool is allocated to the water supply and hydropower purposes. Although the hydropower users would try to prevent such action, in an extreme drought situation, the lake could be drawn to elevation 590, the bottom of the conservation pool, to meet the water supply and hydropower needs and still be in full compliance with PL 100-71.&rdquo The project purposes for Lake Texoma are flood control, hydroelectric power generation, water supply and recreation to a lesser degree. |
| The Lake Texoma economic engine and industry is highly dependent on lake levels, water quality, clarity and productivity. Lake Texoma “Recreation” must be elevated to a level equal with the other project purposes and a minimum lake level established to ensure economic and ecosystem survival of the lake. | ||
