Medina Lake has climbed to 29.3% of conservation capacity, its highest level in years, following a series of heavy July rain events that also caused more than $1.1 million in damage across Bandera County.
The July 13-16 rain event dropped between 12 and 15 inches of rain across the county, based on rises recorded by the National Weather Service.
The Medina River crested at 16.76 feet at Bandera City Park, reaching moderate flood stage, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Although early forecasts projected the river would crest at 24 feet at the park, it remained well below that level. The Medina River at English Crossing, however, reached about 24 feet, according to Bandera County Emergency Management.
According to Bandera County Emergency Management, a Texas Division of Emergency Management assessment identified approximately $850,000 in damage to public infrastructure and another $300,000 in emergency repair costs, primarily in the Pipe Creek area. Eight homes and two businesses reported damage, most of it caused by rainwater runoff.
The rainfall produced a dramatic turnaround for Medina Lake.
As of July 30, the reservoir held 74,779 acrefeet of water, or 29.3% of its conservation capacity, with a mean water level of 1,021.35 feet.
Just one month earlier, the lake was only 9% full with 23,003 acre-feet in storage.
Three months ago, it stood at 3.9% capacity, and one year ago it was 6.5% full.
The July rains added more than 51,000 acrefeet of water in a month and more than doubled the lake's surface area, from 1,119 acres at the end of June to 2,500 acres by July 30.
The Medina River flows swiftly through Bandera City Park on July 23 after heavy rainfall earlier in the month pushed the river to moderate flood stage and helped raise Medina Lake to its highest level in years. BULLETIN PHOTO/ Veronica Rector
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