The Reduced Colorado River Authority (LCRA) in the U.S. state of Texas is starting a $76 million, three-year job to get rid of and also change the 10 floodgates at Wirtz Dam to assist make sure the dam remains to run securely and also accurately.
The dam, which produces Lake LBJ, was finished in 1951. When the Thomas C. Ferguson Power Plant was created in 1974, the dam has 9 initial floodgates and also a tenth that was included. Each floodgate will certainly be changed, one by one to make sure the dam continues to be readily available and also functional to pass floodwaters downstream, with a personalized floodgate that satisfies today’s design criteria. Installment of the very first floodgate is prepared to start in April. Service each floodgate is anticipated to take around 2 months, with the whole job anticipated to be finished in 2025.
” Dams along the Highland Lakes play a crucial function in handling floodwaters, and also we need to keep their preparedness in any way times,” claimed John Hofmann, executive vice head of state of water for LCRA.
On top of that, LCRA will certainly update the equipment that raises the floodgates, called hoists. 2 hoists will certainly be changed and also 8 will certainly be reconditioned. LCRA additionally will certainly change the existing hoist bridge.
Given that 2010, LCRA has actually spent greater than $134 million in resources tasks at the dams along the Highland Lakes, Lake Bastrop and also Lake Fayette, consisting of on the dams and also associated hydroelectric generation facilities. LCRA prepares to spend greater than $107 million in these kinds of tasks over the following 5 years.
LCRA offers consumers throughout Texas by handling the reduced Colorado River; producing and also transferring electrical power; giving a tidy, trusted water; and also supplying outside journeys at greater than 40 parks along the Colorado River.
