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Lake Waco parks closed due to flooding

Posted at 2:18 PM, Oct 19, 2018
and last updated 2018-10-20 00:01:17-04

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers have closed all beaches, campgrounds and boat ramps at Lake Waco due to flooding.

Lake Waco rose 19 feet since last week, and it's currently 17 feet above normal.

Professional photographer Brian Boyd goes to the parks every day to capture pictures of wildlife and nature. 

The 65-year-old said he can still find animals to photograph despite the flooding but he is still saddened to see the current conditions. 

"It's just really depressing really because I know it's going to take a long time to take the park back in shape. It always does because the river brings all the debris," Boyd said. 

This year, the U.S Army Corps of Engineers reopened beach areas of two parks that had been closed since the flood of 2016.  It's unknown if they will need additional repairs after the recent rainfall. 

"Anytime these facilities go under water, you have a lot of construction that needs to take place after the fact," Park Ranger Michael Champagne said.

He added it's unknowing whether the damage would cause the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to keep the parks closed longer than normal. 

"As the water starts coming down, that when we can start getting into assess the damage, start repairs and hopefully opening parks," Champagne said.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers released 2,000 cubic feet per second from the dam starting on Thursday. 

Boyd hopes the parks reopen soon and the rainfall holds off for some time. 

"Thank God for the rain but maybe we've had enough and we can turn it off for a while," Boyd said. 

The only facilities that remain open are Bosque Park below the Waco Dam and the Hike and Bike Trail at the Waco Dam. 

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