Temporary stormwater pumps being removed from Lawrence Lake, Playa 7

Aug 05, 2023

Temporary stormwater pumps at two Amarillo playas are shut off and scheduled for removal beginning Monday, Aug. 7, after water levels have dropped, according to the city.

Temporary pumps were installed at Lawrence Lake and Playa 7 (Greenways) to help alleviate flooding from recent rains, the city of Amarillo noted in a news release. The city said the removal process for the pumps will begin next week.

“The water level in both playas has lowered to the point that temporary surface pumps are not able to remove any additional stormwater,” said COA Interim Director of Public Works Alan Harder.

As previously reported, an estimated billion gallons of water were pumped from six Amarillo playa lakes from June 2 to July 10. Areas around Lawrence Lake and the Greenways were heavily impacted by continous rainfall and flooding earlier this year.

"The surface of Lawrence Lake is now more than 20-feet below the street surface, exceeding the elevation that a surface pump can remove water," a news release notes. "The permanent east pump and the temporary submersible pump in the west pump station will continue to operate until the water level is brought down to shutoff elevation in the bottom of the lake."

Playa 7 (Greenways) has been lowered to its lowest possible elevation while allowing a temporary pump to discharge to McDonald Lake, the city said. The playa is at its lowest elevation since 2021, according to the city.

The temporary pump is now hydraulically separated from the playa, and it is only removing water from a small pond excavated adjacent to Greenways Park during the park’s construction in 2008.

Related earlier story:'Nowhere for the water to go': Amarillo mayor says playa lakes at capacity

For more information, contact City of Amarillo Media Relations Manager David Henry at (806) 378-5219 or by email at [email protected].