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AUSTIN, Texas - The release of water at Starcke Dam near Marble Falls ended around 1 p.m. Monday afternoon.
Officials with the LCRA tell FOX7 that 72-hundred acre feet of water flowed through a single gate as well as a hydroelectric turbine. That's a lot of water considering 1 acre foot equals just over 325,000 gallons.
An advisory regarding the swift current was issued but the churning water below the dam also attracted fishermen. Terry Abbott said when he heard that a flood gate had been opened he didn't waste any time getting his hook in the water.
"All the fish when the water comes through, because normally it's so shallow that they can't get up, but when they open the gate they all come to feed and all the bait fish are trying to get away from them, so it's like a free-for-all," said Abbott.
LCRA also released water through Wertz Dam up stream. The water is helping replenish Lake Travis which had startled to drop during the month of July.
It wasn't that long ago seeing an inflow like this was wishful thinking, especially during the month of August. It’s important to remember before the storm rolled through, drought conditions were starting to creep back into Central Texas. Ranchers with livestock were keeping a close watch on the forecast. Many, like the Carrington family, have recently rebuilt their herds.
"We're very mindful when our water levels go down, we've been to the point where we have had to sell all of our cattle during the drought, and we don't want that to happen again so we are very conservative with our water sources," said Deborah Carrington.
The family business isn't limited to cows; Deborah and her husband Gene also sell hill country real estate.
"It's itching up but it's coming back at a rapid pace than it was earlier than before the draft of course the drought was just horrific with like sales no one was buying because the Pedernales was dried up, Lake Travis you could walk across, so it was not a good time for real estate,” and now it's much better added Carrington.
More rain could mean reeling in more sales contracts for the Carrington's, and for fishermen like Abbott. More rain may trigger more water releases and that certainly could provide more opportunities to land a catch of the day.