By Joel Langton
The 830 Times
Lake Amistad’s water level has been holding strong over the summer.
The lake was at 1,048.73 feet May 13. Since that time, it’s risen to a level of 1,056.13 feet this week. During the past month, it’s risen from 1,055.28.
For more context, in the 90-day period, it’s gone from 28.5 percent full to 33.9 percent full. This is partially due to recent rainfall from remnants of Tropical Storm Barry, particularly across the Big Bend region, triggered flash flooding in the Rio Grande headwaters upstream of Lake Amistad.
Plenty of water in the lake is always good news for area businesses, as there are 23 fishing tournaments scheduled through the rest of the year on the lake, including the Del Rio Chamber of Commerce’s Border Bass Battle Nov. 1.
“This lake has quite the economic impact on our area, as it attracts anglers from throughout the region,” said Blanca Larson, Del Rio Chamber of Commerce and the Convention and Visitors Bureau President and CEO. “For our two Border Bass Battles we host in the spring and fall, we typically have anglers from several states as well as Mexico. Our lake draws visitors who fish the lake by day and eat in our restaurants and sleep in our hotels at night.”
Lake Amistad, located along the U.S.–Mexico border near Del Rio, Texas, is a large reservoir formed by the Amistad Dam on the Rio Grande and holding water from the Rio Grande, the Devils River and the Pecos River. Known for its clear waters, striking desert landscapes and rich recreational opportunities, it’s a popular destination for boating, fishing, scuba diving and camping.
