BURKEVILLE, Texas — The Toledo Bend Project Joint Operation has announced all eleven spillway gates have been opened and the water release rate has tripled since early Friday morning.
The reservoir level was at 173.11 feet mean sea level according to a Toledo Bend Project Joint Operation update as of 1:30 p.m. Saturday, May 11.
Eleven spillway gates are now open at three feet releasing a total of 33,144 cubic feet per second of water.
This is an increase from 22,144 cfs Friday afternoon, which was double 11,144 cfs, the amount being released at 3:15 a.m. Friday morning.
Both generators, which are currently operating 24 hours per day, are releasing about 12,950 CFS according to the update.
The total release for spillway gates and the generator was about 35,094 CFS at 8:15 a.m. according to the update.
The Burkeville gauge on the Sabine river was reading 32.27 feet at about 9:30 a.m. Friday.
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Spillway releases are initiated around a level of 172.5 feet mean sea level, according to the release.
Information from the National Weather Service Forecast Center is being monitored by personnel.
Up-to-date levels can be found on the Sabine River Authority of Louisiana's website, Sabine River Authority of Texas' website and the SE Texas R.A.I.N website.
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Releases through the spillway gates are made in accordance with the Toledo Bend Spillway Operating Guide as approved by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission according to the news release.
'Toledo Bend Reservoir is not a flood control reservoir and can experience significant rises in elevation in a short time span' according to the release.