As indicated in Figure 1, the project conservation pool is at 617 ft., msl. However, during much of the spring, the pool is reduced by several feet to provide further flood protection. Conversely, during the drier summer months, two feet is added to the conservation pool. Lake Buchanan on the lower Colorado River also has a seasonal operating policy, with the water conservation pool set at 1020 ft., msl., except for the months of May, June, July, September and October when it is set at 1018 ft., msl. Other reservoirs with seasonal operating rules include Wright Patman Reservoir and Lake O' The Pines, both in east Texas.
Opportunities Converting existing storage to water supply has several obvious advantages.
Since it's an existing reservoir, no new construction and environmental permits are needed. Further, the project has an established, accountable operator, and all costs can be shared with other project participants. These studies also reviewed storage reallocation practices across the nation. The TWDB proposed to totally convert the hydroelectric power generation storage pool at Lake Whitney to water supply. This reallocation would provide approximately 125,000 acre-feet annually of additional water supply in the lower Brazos River basin.