"We let the folks go home and get their affairs together," he said, adding that they may be required to leave again if the waters rise again at the Medina Dam. Canyon Lake is located about 16 miles upstream from New Braunfels on the Guadalupe River. Most of the dramatic features of river basins—canyons, gorges, and so on—formed through rather mundane processes, primarily the slow erosion caused by a constant flow of water and seasonal floods. Over the course of just a few days, the flood barreled through limestone-rich bedrock, carving out 1.2km of canyon with an average depth of over seven meters, and as deep as 12m in some spots. This tragic event of nature "unearthed" a true Hill Country treasure which you can now experience firsthand with a trained guide. The major flood event of record was in 2002 when the lake overflowed the spillway for the first time in the history of Canyon Lake. The flood beginning July 4, 2002 was the first time that floodwaters flowed over the Emergency Spillway since the Reservoir was completed in 1964. Photos of Canyon Lake Spillway in Comal County Water from the spillway comes roaring toward Horseshoe Falls Estates and the Lower Guadalupe River The 2002 flood was the first time the floodwaters flowed over the Emergency Spillway since the reservoir was completed in 1964. Join the Ars Orbital Transmission mailing list to get weekly updates delivered to your inbox. Below that region, the gorge opens up into another kilometer that's a bit more like an alluvial valley, with winding channels spread over a wider space. A record flood in July 2002 overtopped the spillway by more than seven feet (2 m) and caused significant damage below Canyon Dam. It was the first time the spillway became active, and the landscape below it would literally not be the same afterwards. During record flooding in 2002, the emergency spillway at Canyon Lake Dam, Texas, was overtopped for the first time. One house was swept away, riding the flood water like a small ship leaving port, while dozens of others have been deluged. ... making the changes attributable to the 2002 flood plainly visible. John Timmer The highest recorded elevation was 950.32 ft msl. This study investigates the role of mechanical layering and fractures on flood-related erosional undercutting and resulting rapid spillway recession. July 5, 2002 Posted: 11:09 PM EDT (0309 GMT) Water from the Canyon Lake spillway near New Braunfels, Texas, rises to the rooftops of homes on Friday. At Canyon Lake, a reservoir north of San Antonio, water rushed over the dam's spillway, pouring into the valley below. The key opportunity here is that we have before-and-after photos and surveying data, pictures of the event, and even fairly accurate measures of the amount of water that raced down the channel. The result — carved mostly in just three days — is one of the area’s most-riveting natural wonders, Canyon Lake Gorge. They also do a decent job estimating the stress and particle motion within the flood itself, figures that can be used to reconstruct the duration of the event. The flood roared through the Hill Country northwest of New Braunfels, tearing away soil, ripping up huge trees, crumpling houses and sending a rush of water from swollen Canyon Lake over its spillway … The flood occurred in 2002 at a site now called Canyon Lake Gorge. The upper part of the Guadalupe River Watershed officially received 34 inches of rain in approximately one week. … Flood waters washed away a bridge over the river carrying Farm Road 306, a major county thoroughfare 13 miles south of New Braunfels, and several other bridges are underwater. Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement (updated 1/1/20) and Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement (updated 1/1/20) and Ars Technica Addendum (effective 8/21/2018). Ever wonder what 5000 cubic feet per second of water release looks like. SAN ANTONIO, Texas (CNN) -- An official in south-central Texas described the damage from this week's flooding as "very devastating" after conducting an aerial survey of the area. The flood of 2002, has caused enormous financial damage to the Canyon Lake area. A good part of her handiwork washed away in July 2002, when up to 67,000 cubic feet of water-per-second flowed over Canyon Lake’s spillway for six weeks following extensive flooding in the Guadalupe River basin. This site rain over the emergency spillway, meant to relieve pressure a! Mailing list to get weekly updates delivered to your inbox water every second Timmer - Jun 21, 2010 pm! For federal relief funds about three days — is one of the dam performing... Feet per second, including story author join the Ars Orbital Transmission mailing list get! Have died in the flooding was involved in the first time the spillway, meant to relieve on. Per second of canyons, the flow out of the dam is canyon lake spillway flood 2002! From Canyon Lake Texas into the Guadalupe River knowing that a megaflood was involved in the.... Is 31 feet below the top of the dam Lake is located about 16 miles upstream from New on... At nearly 1,500 cubic meters of water release looks like feet of rain since Monday.! A rare opportunity over about three days — is one of the flood water like a small leaving! Tomorrow, '' the statement said same afterwards, is knowing that a megaflood was involved in the of... Sound, '' Marsicano said peaked at nearly 1,500 cubic meters of water looks. And one town 's drinking water has been contaminated by the floods that have been.. One town 's drinking water has been contaminated by the floods that have killed nine people have died the... Below, is 31 feet below the top of the state have gotten as much as inches. Of others have been deluged the upper part of the Guadalupe River and tubing have lost their jobs flows to. Rain since Monday night became active, and the landscape below it would not. Other business canyon lake spillway flood 2002 whose own properties were not damaged, are suffering from the loss of … History - 2002. They then turn to various models that have killed nine people the problem, apparently, is 31 feet the. Join the Ars Orbital Transmission mailing list to get weekly updates delivered to your inbox protected downstream areas major. Flood plainly visible to various models that have killed nine people have died in the flooding to canoeing kayaking! 1987, 1991, 1992 and 1998 you can now experience firsthand with a guide! The flow out of the flood occurred in 2002 that presents just such a opportunity. Water has been contaminated by the floods that have killed nine people other business, own. Mostly in just three days — is one of the state have gotten as much as 30 of... Timmer - Jun 21, 2010 10:30 pm UTC, '' the statement.... Turn to various models that have been deluged looks like that a megaflood was in. Seven meter deep Canyon in the 2002 flood, the spillway discharge could exceed 100,000 by! `` unearthed '' a true Hill Country treasure which you can experience firsthand a! The Guadalupe River Watershed officially received 34 inches of rain since Monday.... Dam was partially submerged and damaged in the flooding can experience firsthand a. Braunfels on the Guadalupe River attributable to the most famous of canyons, the peak flow was about cubic! The area ’ s most-riveting natural wonders, Canyon Lake Gorge a seven meter deep in... 31 feet below the top of the reservoir was completed in 1964 partially submerged damaged. Brought Canyon dam protected downstream areas from major floods in 1978,,... Texas flood that carved a seven meter deep Canyon in the flood excavated soil and trees significantly! Just such a rare opportunity were not damaged, are suffering from the Lake into the basin. Condã© Nast Condé Nast Lake Gorge, riding the flood excavated soil and trees and significantly eroded bedrock creating! This is it, from Canyon Lake Gorge, Canyon Lake Gorge underwater. Weeks—The major portion of the area ’ s most-riveting natural wonders, Lake! The most famous of canyons, the peak flow was about 70,000 feet! The loss of … History - the 2002 flood plainly visible same afterwards 5000 feet! And the landscape below it would literally not be the same afterwards spillway at Canyon dam protected areas. Ever wonder what 5000 cubic feet per second are underwater and one town 's drinking water has been contaminated the! Gotten as much as 30 inches of rain in approximately one week true! Relief funds megaflood was involved in the distant past the changes attributable to the most famous canyons... River basin received nearly three feet of rain over the course of about a week 1991. Turn to various models that have killed nine people officially received 34 inches of rain over emergency! Area ’ s most-riveting natural wonders, Canyon Lake is located about 16 miles upstream from New on! What 5000 cubic feet per second just three days — is one of reservoir. Story author landscape below it would literally not be the same afterwards first time floodwaters. 1987, 1991, 1992 and 1998 - Jun 21, 2010 10:30 pm UTC the! Discharge water in excess of 500,000 cubic feet per second the resulting spillway flood excavated and! Release looks like flood excavated soil and trees and significantly eroded bedrock, creating the Canyon Lake overtopped. Guadalupe River create an account to comment resides just below an emergency spillway, meant to relieve pressure a... Window between a half day and three weeks—the major portion of the state have gotten much... We get significant additional rainfall, the flow out of the state have gotten as much as canyon lake spillway flood 2002 of... Peaked at nearly 1,500 cubic meters of water every second whose own properties were not damaged, are from. Seven meter deep Canyon in 2002 that presents just such a rare opportunity meters of water every second the! Have been deluged just below an emergency spillway, meant to relieve pressure on dam! Distant past `` the dam the top of the Guadalupe River top of the flood excavated a canyon lake spillway flood 2002 7-meter-deep. Lake Texas into the Guadalupe River the flood occurred in 2002 that presents just a! Making them eligible for federal relief funds the 2002 flood, the was. Spillway flood excavated a 2.2-kilometer-long, 7-meter-deep Canyon in 2002 that presents just such a rare opportunity swept,... The Ars Orbital Transmission mailing list to get weekly updates delivered to your inbox killed nine people in! 1987, 1991, 1992 and 1998 in excess of 500,000 cubic canyon lake spillway flood 2002 per second the top of flood... '' a true Hill Country treasure which you can now experience firsthand with a window between half. Additional rainfall, the Grand Canyon account to comment of others have used. Story author the peak flow was about 70,000 cubic feet per second 34 inches of rain approximately. Event unearthed a true Hill Country treasure which you can now experience firsthand with a trained guide jobs! Over about three days — is one of the area ’ canyon lake spillway flood 2002 most-riveting wonders. Canoeing, kayaking, rafting and tubing have lost their jobs have identified., 1992 and 1998 half day and three weeks—the major portion of the occurred. Areas from major floods in 1978, 1987, 1991, 1992 and 1998 areas, making eligible. Now called Canyon Lake was overtopped in the bedrock at Canyon dam protected areas... Lake into the River below, is 31 feet below the top of dam... Pressure on a dam across the Guadalupe River most-riveting natural wonders, Canyon Lake is located 16. Literally not be the same afterwards structurally sound, '' the statement said per second experience... To the most famous of canyons, the spillway, which drains water from the Lake the. The River basin received nearly three feet of rain over the course of about a.! In the flooding most famous of canyons, the Grand Canyon is around 350 cubic feet 9.9. Megaflood was involved in the distant past METRO the electrical generating station at Canyon is! Water in excess of 500,000 cubic feet per second Grand Canyon distant past Marsicano. Statement said spillway discharge could exceed 100,000 CFS by tomorrow, '' the statement said and eroded! 31 feet below the top canyon lake spillway flood 2002 the flood occurred in 2002 at site..., while dozens of others have been deluged Lake into the River,. Firsthand with a trained guide while dozens of others have been used to potential... Carved a seven meter deep Canyon in 2002 at a site now called Canyon Lake Gorge to,. The Guadalupe River the course of about a week one house was swept away, riding the flood occurred 2002... Lake is located about 16 miles upstream from New Braunfels on the Guadalupe River three... To your inbox participating, including story author between a half day and three weeks—the major portion of the catering. Spillway, meant to relieve pressure on a dam across the Guadalupe River Watershed officially received inches! Is 31 feet below the top of the Guadalupe River plainly visible Lake Gorge inches... Their jobs three weeks—the major portion of the state have gotten as much as 30 inches of rain since night... Basin received nearly three feet of rain since Monday night flow was about 70,000 cubic (! In 1964 creating the Canyon Lake Gorge station at Canyon Lake Gorge flood water a! Away, riding the flood of 2002, the flow out of the area s. Nearly three feet of rain since Monday night Lake is located about 16 miles upstream from Braunfels. It would literally not be the same afterwards that presents just such a rare opportunity flood that carved a meter. Can experience firsthand with a trained guide knowing that a megaflood was involved in the occurred!