Recent heavy rains have been hugely beneficial in raising lake levels.
In some cases, lakes are releasing water for the first time in four or five years. But that doesn't mean the lakes are completely full and overflowing.
Most of the lakes in North Texas serve three different functions: water supply, recreation and flood control.
For each lake, there is an optimal level to provide water for drinking and recreation, but still has the capability to hold more water in the event of a flood. This is called the "Conservation Pool Level."
Whenever a lake climbs above that level, water is released to get it back down to the Conservation Pool Level, to give more leeway for future flood control.
