Smallest Highland Lakes dam Starcke Dam and Lake Marble Falls Ten floodgates now modernized
Starcke Dam, owned by LCRA, creates Lake Marble Falls.
Starcke Dam has the distinction of being the smallest in the Highland Lakes chain and the last one completed. The lake and dam were constructed from 1949 to 1951 for hydroelectricity. Originally named Marble Falls, the dam was renamed in 1962 for Max Starcke, LCRA's second general manager. He served from 1940 to 1955.
LCRA has recently replaced the dam's 50-year-old "bear trap" floodgates with hydraulic gates.
Location: Burnet County, 382 river miles from the Gulf of Mexico Year built: 1949 to 1951 Dam dimensions:
98.8 feet high,
859.5 feet long,
56.83 feet thick at the base,
13 feet thick at the top Lake area: 611 acres Primary purpose: hydroelectric power, water supply Generating capacity: 32 megawatts Floodgates: 10 Total discharge capacity:
112,200 cubic feet per second (cfs)
10 floodgates @ 10,400 cfs each
2 turbines @ 4,100 cfs each
Original name: Marble Falls Dam
DETAILS ON LAKE MARBLE FALLS
Elevation when full: 738 feet above mean sea level (msl) Volume when full: 6,420 acre-feet Historic high: 756.3 feet above msl on Sept. 11, 1952 Historic low: 715 feet above msl on Oct. 4, 1983 Normal operating range: 736.2 to 737 feet above msl 100-year flood level at dam: 753 feet above msl 500-year flood level at dam: 763 feet above msl Top of dam: 738 feet above msl Dimensions: 5.75 miles long and 1,080 feet at widest point
