Posted: Mon, 7 Feb 2011 08:51 PM - 13,887 Readers

By: KXAN

Barring any serious bad weather that would affect the Austin area, the refill of Lake Austin is set for Thursday, Feb. 10, two days later than originally planned.

Last week's statewide power emergency, snow and freezing sleet all combined and the level of Lake Austin was raised in order to generate hydroelectric power at the authority of Electric Reliability Council of Texas.

Lower Colorado River Authority was able to send some of the water used for hydroelectric generation to downstream wholesale water customers who could store or make beneficial use of it, but the rest of the water used for hydroelectric generation from the upper lakes was stored in Lake Austin so as not to waste it.

The hydroelectric generation operations at all six dams on the Highland Lakes caused Lake Austin to rise about three feet last week, but it has fallen about three feet since then.

The lake level was on a six-week drawdown to give lakeside residents time to complete dock maintenance.

ERCOT could order another change to the water level this week with a chance for showers and Tuesday and frigid temperatures forecast for early Wednesday.