Lake Texoma Reaching Full Pool, But For How Long?

It’s Sunday, April 26th as I write this post, and Lake Texoma is within an inch of full pool. That’s the blessing of recent heavy rains. With more rain in the forecast this week, we should definitely hit 617, which measurement is the number of feet above sea level. And it’s what the Army Corps of Engineers considers normal.

A look at the graph on the left sidebar of LakeTexoma.com will show you an interesting historical perspective, but nobody can predict the future.

I’m excited that we can get out on the lake without fear of jamming props and keels on hidden tree stumps. That’s a good thing, for sure.

And I’m excited the lake will attract plenty of visitors this year. That’s ALWAYS a good thing.

But I’m a little bit worried about the future of Lake Texoma, too, because millions of gallons of water are now traveling through the huge pipeline to Wylie, TX, and some of it passes through the new Panda Energy power generation plant in Sherman.

Clean, green power for north Texans, right? What’s not to like about that? Drought or flood or anything in between, Lake Texoma has never been drained to the extent it’s being drained now. And, it has never experienced what’s fixin’ to happen in the future.

Turns out, Grayson County Judge Bill Magers is excited, too, But for a totally different reason. Today, The Herald Democrat reported Magers as saying, “… I’m so excited for the city of Sherman to add Phase II…” He’s referring to an expansion of the Panda Energy generator already using millions of gallons of Lake Texoma water each year.

KTEN online reported the following quote from Sherman Mayor Cary Wacker in March 2014, as the plant was nearing completion, “What the Panda Plant will be doing is just using a portion of Sherman's water allocation so it's not additional water coming out of the lake.”

OK, I want to trust that Lake Texoma will rise and fall in its normal lake elevations, just as it has done since the Denison Dam was built in the 1940s. I want to believe that the new pipeline and the Panda Sherman Power Project water use and proposed expansion won’t compromise businesses and visitors on Lake Texoma each year.

Am I worrying for nothing? Thanks for posting your comments below.

Author: MiaSherwood Landau

Writing and blogging for business and for fun, Mia Sherwood Landau works from her cabin in the woods on Lake Texoma, where she loves to knit and sew and and craft folk art whenever she's not writing or spending time on the water.

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Lake Texoma Current Weather Alerts

There are no active watches, warnings or advisories.

Lake Texoma Weather Forecast

Friday

Mostly Cloudy

Hi: 80

Friday Night

Rain Showers

Lo: 66

Saturday

Rain Showers

Hi: 73

Saturday Night

Rain Showers

Lo: 64

Sunday

Rain Showers Likely

Hi: 71

Sunday Night

Mostly Clear

Lo: 53

Monday

Mostly Sunny

Hi: 75

Monday Night

Partly Cloudy

Lo: 59

Extended Weather Forecast

Lake Texoma Water Level (last 30 days)

Water Level on 4/18: 615.63 (-1.37)

Water Level Details

Lake Texoma

Fishing Report from TPWD (Apr. 16)

FAIR. Water stained; 62 degrees; 1.34 feet below pool. Striper fishing is hit-and-miss with the weather and winds. Watch for the gusts at the end of this week and plan your trip accordingly. Texoma gets big swells and there are several marinas to launch from on the southern edge of the lake especially as the stripers move up the Red River and Washita River with inflow. Live bait on flats and ledges in 30-45 feet of water is producing limits of box fish. Look for bigger fish to be shallow near the rivers on points and humps. Crappie are scattered in the creeks as they spawn and wrap up spawning. A few fish being caught around docks and brush in 8-12 feet of water on jigs. Look at creeks and shallow water with the warm days and rain! Bass fishing will improve with the stained water and rise in lake levels. Fish will be near rocks and gravel as the shad spawn is kicking off, as well as on docks early in the mornings. Starting to see blue catfish, channel catfish, and flathead catfish showing up. Stumps and brush on points hold flathead this time of year, blue catfish are in deeper water suspended as the shad move higher in the water column. Channels will be along the rocks on punch baits and prepared baits. Report by Jacob Orr, Lake Texoma, Guaranteed Guide Service. Striped bass are hit-and-miss under the birds. Nice clear days are tougher, but fish are actively feeding on cloudy days with wind. Cast swimbaits to structure allowing the lure to sink then slowly roll back to the boat. Shad are spawning along the banks indicating a topwater bite will begin soon. Report by John Blasingame, Adventure Texoma Outdoors.

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Courtesy of laketexoma.com

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