SOUTH TOLEDO BEND, Texas — Following heavy overnight rains Monday night into the morning that moved down through East Texas and into Southeast Texas before moving into Louisiana and the Gulf the Sabine River Authority (SRA) says it may need to release water from the Toledo Bend Reservoir.
The SRA announced Tuesday evening the water level at the reservoir was 172.44 feet and that it was monitoring the level in anticipation of potentially releasing water from the reservoir's spillway gates leading to the Sabine River. Both generators at the reservoir are currently operating 24 hours per day, according to a news release from the organization.
The level was at 172.35 feet around 10 a.m. on Monday, according to a previous release.
Three hours later at 12:45 p.m. the level was at 172.24 feet, according to gages at the reservoir.
The SRA's policy is to release water from the reservoir once the level reaches 172.5 feet according to the news release. Officials are currently monitoring inflow information from the National Weather Service Forecast Center.
If the reservoir's level continues, water will be released in accordance with the "Toledo Bend Spillway Operating Guide,": which has been approved by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission the release said.
Here's where you can monitor the levels...
12News meteorologist Kerry Cooper says that it is very possible the reservoir's level will continue to rise.
Anyone downstream of the reservoir should monitor the reservoir levels as well as levels along the Sabine River, which could reach flood stage making possible evacuation necessary.
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This is a developing story. We will update with more if and when we receive more confirmed information.