A moment in time: The rise of Lake J.B. Thomas, Part 4

Scurry County Spotlight

  • Water has washed over the Lake J. B. Thomas spillway only three times since the lake’s inception. The first time was in September of 1962, and pictured is the third and final time, on September 5, 1962.
    Water has washed over the Lake J. B. Thomas spillway only three times since the lake’s inception. The first time was in September of 1962, and pictured is the third and final time, on September 5, 1962.
  • The upper water shed of the Colorado River and Bull Creek diversion, located in Gail, was dry in 2011. This is the precise location that a deluge is needed to fill lake J.B. Thomas.
    The upper water shed of the Colorado River and Bull Creek diversion, located in Gail, was dry in 2011. This is the precise location that a deluge is needed to fill lake J.B. Thomas.
In October 1960, Lake J.B. Thomas ran over the spillway for the first time since the lake’s inception. In September 1962, Lake Thomas reached a maximum level of 2,259.85 feet after an 8.57-inch deluge. This was the third and last time that Lake J.B. Thomas ran over the spillway according to Joe Pickle with the CRMWD.  As lake levels receded, the salt cedars and mesquites saw an increase. Both…

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