The history of LCRA

The history of LCRA
Early years and first critical test

In 1937 LCRA completed Hamilton Dam, renaming it for U.S. Rep. J. P. Buchanan, a key Congressional supporter. That same year it broke ground on Mansfield Dam, which would serve as the valley's flood-control structure. In 1938 it completed construction of Inks Dam, immediately downstream of Buchanan Dam.

Rep. Buchanan died in 1937 and was succeeded by Lyndon Johnson, a protege of Wirtz. Johnson realized the potential LCRA and its dams offered the region. He persuaded LCRA to use the electric power from its dams to benefit Central Texas communities and rural areas. LCRA manpower strung the lines that brought electricity to customers of the region's first two electric cooperatives, Pedernales and what is today Bluebonnet.

In 1938 LCRA faced its first critical test, when heavy flooding swept the basin. Critics charged LCRA had worsened the flood by its operation of Buchanan Dam, prompting an investigation by the Texas Senate. The investigation not only exonerated LCRA but also determined that LCRA needed to extend the height of Mansfield Dam by an additional 80 feet to its current height of 278 feet to provide more protection to Austin and downstream communities.

By 1939 LCRA had acquired a service area surrounding Austin from private utilities and began a campaign to convince communities to purchase their local distribution systems and buy power from LCRA. Almost all communities did — and saw retail electric bills drop almost by half from what private utilities had charged. LCRA also sponsored "electric fairs" with local merchants to introduce residents to the benefits of electric appliances.

In 1940 LCRA completed reconstruction of Tom Miller Dam, owned by the City of Austin. The dam had twice been destroyed by floods. The following year, months before the United States entered World War II, LCRA completed Mansfield Dam.

Post-war boom
The years following World War II saw unprecedented growth for the Central Texas area, and LCRA struggled to keep up with the demand for electricity. In 1947 it leased a power plant in New Braunfels, its first non-hydroelectric generation source.

A year later, work began on two smaller dams between Inks Dam and Lake Travis to increase LCRA's hydroelectric capacity. LCRA completed Wirtz Dam in 1950 and Starcke Dam a year later. The chain of reservoirs created by LCRA's six dams became known as the Highland Lakes.

In the late 1940s the region encountered what is known as its "drought of record" — a decade-long period infrequently interrupted by significant rains. A flood in 1957 finally broke the drought.

As LCRA dealt with electric and drought issues, U.S. Rep. Lyndon Johnson challenged the organization to fulfill one of its charter responsibilities. At his urging, LCRA launched an aggressive basinwide soil-conservation program in 1947. LCRA conducted education programs, loaned farming equipment, and established "example farms" to demonstrate effective techniques. It phased out the program in the mid-1950s as the federal government became more involved in soil conservation.

LCRA expanded another of its charter operations in 1960 with the purchase of the Gulf Coast Water Company, which provided irrigation water to farmers in Matagorda County near the Gulf Coast. Irrigation interests had been some of the strongest proponents for the creation of LCRA, and the acquisition of Gulf Coast provided LCRA with additional Colorado River water rights.

By the early 1960s, demand for electricity had grown so that LCRA needed additional generating capacity. There were no suitable sites on the river for LCRA to build more hydroelectric dams, so it turned to a new fuel source — natural gas, which was at the time one of the cheapest, most abundant fuels available. By the end of the decade LCRA had built three units at the Sim Gideon Power Plant site in Bastrop County. In the early 1970s LCRA began planning a similar complex at what would become the Thomas C. Ferguson Power Plant in Llano County.

See: An era of changes — and challenges
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TIMELINE

Through the years: 1937 to 1973

1937 — Buchanan dies. Lyndon Baines Johnson, a strong advocate of public power, succeeds Buchanan in a special election. LCRA begins construction of Marshall Ford Dam, designed to form a massive reservoir that can contain Hill Country floodwaters.

1938 — Buchanan and Inks dams begin operations. LCRA begins reconstruction of the Austin Dam.

July 1938 — A massive flood forces LCRA to open 22 of Buchanan Dam's 37 floodgates -- a record for that dam.

August 1938 — In response to Rep. Johnson's urgings, LCRA begins a public power program to benefit Central Texas communities. It hires Seguin Mayor Max Starcke to run the program.

September 1938 — The July 1938 flood points to the need for a "higher" Marshall Ford Dam to hold floodwaters -- and better monitoring of river and weather conditions. LCRA approves installation of 50 rain gauges -- the first comprehensive watershed reporting system in Texas.

February 1940 — LCRA completes reconstruction of Austin Dam, which is renamed in April for Austin Mayor Tom Miller.

May 1940 — LCRA Operations Manager Max Starcke becomes LCRA's second general manager.

1941 — More than half of LCRA's current electric customers have signed up to buy LCRA power.

1941 — Marshall Ford Dam is renamed in honor of U.S. Rep. Joseph J. Mansfield. The dam, which forms Lake Travis, is completed the following year.

1941 — LCRA adopts the name "Highland Lakes" for the reservoirs formed by its dams as part of efforts to promote recreation in the region.

1945 — Sam K. Seymour, Jr., a Columbus businessman, is appointed to the LCRA Board of Directors. He will serve 36 years, longer than any other LCRA director.

Aug. 6, 1945 — LCRA lowers Lake Austin for the first time to control the growth of nuisance aquatic plants, popularly known as "duckweed."

April 1947 — LCRA begins operating the Comal Power Plant in New Braunfels to meet growing electric load demands. The plant is LCRA's first nonhydroelectric unit, using natural gas for fuel.

April 1948 — At the strong urging of Rep. Johnson, LCRA adopts a soil conservation program. LCRA and the Guadalupe-Blanco River Authority start first locally sponsored program in the United States.

1949 — "Operation Waterlift" arrives in New York City with 3,000 gallons of water from the Highland Lakes to drought-stricken residents. The publicity stunt garners national attention for the Highland Lakes.

1951 — LCRA finishes construction of Granite Shoals and Marble Falls dams, completing the Highland Lakes chain. The LCRA Board is expanded to 12 directors.

August 1951 — Lake Travis drops to its all-time low elevation of 614.18 feet msl, almost 67 feet below full elevation.

September 1951 — Alvin Wirtz, known as the "Father of LCRA," dies. LCRA renames Granite Shoals Dam in his memory.

September 1952 — Lake Travis rises 57 feet in 14 hours following rains of up to 15 inches -- still a record for the highest, fastest rise on the lake.

January 1956 — LCRA General Counsel Sim Gideon becomes LCRA's third general manager.

1957 — A decade-long "Drought of Record" ends in Central Texas following spring thunderstorms that dump more than 3 million acre-feet of water in the Colorado River. LCRA operates Mansfield Dam for flood-management purposes for the first time, opening six gates (still a record).

December 1959 — LCRA purchases Gulf Coast Water Company in Bay City and begins management of irrigation operations in Matagorda and Wharton counties.

September 1962 — LCRA renames Marble Falls Dam in honor of former General Manager Max Starcke.

1965 — Lake Granite Shoals, created by Wirtz Dam, is renamed in honor of President Lyndon B. Johnson.

1965 — The first unit of the Sim Gideon Power Plant -- the first nonhydroelectric plant to be built by LCRA -- is placed in operation. LCRA will add units in 1968 and 1971. All three units use natural gas for fuel.

1971 — Texas Legislature gives LCRA power to control water pollution in both surface and groundwater, operate and own wastewater and waste disposal services, develop and manage parks and promote fish preservation.

June 1973 — State Senator Charles Herring becomes LCRA's fourth general manager. LCRA shuts down the Comal Power Plant when rising fuel costs make the plant no longer economical.

See: Through the years: 1974 to present

Go back: Through the years: beginning

— Updated on September 30, 2008 at 12:04 PM —