The level at Lake Brownwood continues to decline despite recent rain showers, according to officials at Brown County Water Improvement District #1 (BCWID).
Lake Brownwood is currently at 1413.95 msl (mean sea level) which is 11.05 feet below spillway level. This puts the lake at 53.77% of capacity, according to BCWID General Manager Dennis Spinks, and is a decline of about 0.62 of a foot in the last 30 days.
“I think as the lake continues to go down and we don’t get any rise in the lake from these rains that we have had, we will continue every three to four days losing a tenth of a foot,” Spinks said.
Although low, Lake Brownwood has rebounded from a record decline of more than 16 feet below spillway level in October 2011.
“Since 2011, we have come up 4 or 5 feet,” Spinks said. “We are in better shape today than we were this time a year ago.”
BCWID and local water providers are currently in Stage 3 water restrictions calling for decreased water use by local residents. If water levels continue to decline, tighter restrictions will be considered.
“I don’t think we will hit Stage 4 until September, if then,” Spinks said.
Due to the low lake level, the Lake Patrol is asking all boaters to use extra caution when using Lake Brownwood. Allow extra distance from the shorelines due to potential hazards.
Boat ramps at the Lake Brownwood dam and the Lake Brownwood State Park are both open to the public at this time.