Highland Lakes water levels
The two Highland Lakes that store water — Buchanan and Travis — together hold 1,967,569 acre-feet, 100% of their combined capacity. This combined storage is the number LCRA actually manages the chain by — its drought stages are defined against it.
| Lake | Level | Full pool | From full | Role |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Buchanan Buchanan Dam | 1019.50 ft | 1020.0 ft | -0.50 ft | storage |
| Inks Lake Inks Dam | 887.05 ft | 887.7 ft | -0.65 ft | pass-through |
| Lake LBJ Wirtz Dam | 824.75 ft | 825.0 ft | -0.25 ft | pass-through |
| Lake Marble Falls Starcke Dam | 736.46 ft | 737.0 ft | -0.54 ft | pass-through |
| Lake Travis Mansfield Dam | 680.12 ft | 681.0 ft | -0.88 ft | storage |
| Lake Austin Tom Miller Dam | 492.06 ft | 492.8 ft | -0.74 ft | pass-through |
Two lakes do the work
Buchanan and Travis are the only Highland Lakes designed to rise and fall. They hold the chain's water supply and absorb its floods, which is why Lake Travis can swing 20 feet in a year while its neighbors barely move.
Inks, LBJ, Marble Falls and Austin are pass-through lakes: LCRA holds each within about a foot of its full level and passes inflow downstream. Their levels are an operating decision, not a drought signal — which is also why this site forecasts only Lake Travis.
Lake Travis water level — common questions
How full are the Highland Lakes?
The two Highland Lakes that store water — Lake Buchanan and Lake Travis — together hold 1,967,569 acre-feet, 100% of their combined capacity of 1,964,738 acre-feet. This combined storage is the figure LCRA manages the Highland Lakes system by.
Which Highland Lakes rise and fall?
Only Lake Buchanan and Lake Travis are designed to rise and fall — they store water for the whole chain. Inks Lake, Lake LBJ, Lake Marble Falls and Lake Austin are pass-through lakes held near a constant level, though they can be drawn down temporarily for maintenance.
Lake Travis gets the full treatment — the 10-day forecast, 87 years of history and boat ramp status. Source: Texas Water Development Board daily record; current levels from LCRA Hydromet. Reference figures from LCRA..