Amarillo is no stranger to heavy spring rains, and this week has been no exception. According to the National Weather Service, the city has received 3.15 inches of rain since Sunday — with the possibility of another half-inch to an inch today. Despite the downpour, Assistant City Manager and Public Infrastructure Director Donny Hooper says there’s no reason to worry: Amarillo’s playa lakes are “in good shape.”
A Year After Major Flooding, Amarillo Is Better Prepared
This spring’s steady rainfall is bringing back memories of the 2023 flooding that overwhelmed Amarillo’s drainage system. Back then, extended periods of rain saturated the ground, and a final burst of 3 to 4 inches tipped the balance, causing major flooding — especially at Lawrence Lake.
But this year’s story is different. The ground wasn’t saturated when the recent rain began, giving the water more places to go. In fact, Hooper said that city crews only recently had to start using pumps again after over a month without needing them.
“About a couple of weeks ago, on a Saturday, we got a 2-inch rain-er,” Hooper said. “That was the first time we turned on our pumps in well over a month.”
Where’s Playa Lake 7?
The city maintains multiple playa lakes throughout Amarillo — shallow, natural basins that serve as water retention points during rain events. But one lake in particular — Playa Lake 7, near Greenways Park — has sparked public interest due to its absence from the city’s online monitoring dashboard.
According to Hooper, that’s because Playa Lake 7 is unusually flat. While other lakes have visible markers that allow crews to measure how full they are, Playa Lake 7 doesn’t lend itself to visual gauging.
That’s about to change.
New Real-Time Lake Monitoring Software Launches May 14
On May 13, Public Works Director Alan Harder will present a new software system to the Amarillo City Council. The very next day, the public will get access to it.
The software will allow anyone — residents, city staff, or emergency planners — to view the current percentage full for multiple playa lakes, updated in real time. It will also include hourly-updated photos, historical data, and rainfall metrics.
“You’ll be able to see percent full for several different lakes, all the ones we pump, but also ones we own and maintain that don’t have pumps,” said Harder.
This includes:
Lakes with pumps: Bennett, Lawrence, Martin, McDonald, Playa 7, Tee Anchor
Lakes without pumps but maintained by the city: Willow Grove and McCarthy
The software will use radar-based data to monitor even flat lakes like Playa Lake 7 — solving a long-standing gap in visibility.
Flood Readiness Is a Citywide Effort
Besides technological upgrades, Amarillo’s physical infrastructure is getting attention, too. The city now keeps spare pumps on hand and is actively maintaining its pump systems, including one currently under repair at Tee Anchor Lake. These are proactive measures to prevent the kinds of issues seen in 2023.
Importantly, Amarillo’s streets are actually part of its flood strategy. Designed as secondary drainage channels, curbs and gutters guide rainwater toward inlets that connect to East and West Amarillo Creeks.
“When we see minor street flooding, that’s typical,” said Hooper. “Amarillo is a flat place, it’s really hard to get some of that water out. But generally, all the areas that we have concerns with — we know that within an hour, it’s going to be clear of that water.”
Harder agrees. “Yesterday, I think our drainage system worked perfectly,” he said, referring to a recent rain event that temporarily closed the Hollywood Road Wastewater Treatment Facility but otherwise caused no lasting damage.
A Smarter, More Transparent Future
Once the new software launches on May 14, Amarilloans will be able to track water levels, view real-time photos, and understand how rainfall affects their neighborhoods. It’s a leap toward transparency, and one that could help residents better prepare for — and understand — the next big rain event.
Whether it’s 3 inches or 10, Amarillo’s system is evolving to meet the challenge. With a better-informed public and smarter monitoring tools, the city is aiming to stay one step ahead of the next storm.
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