Lake Travis Water Level
Texas · Colorado River
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Water level history
About Lake Travis
Lake Travis is a reservoir on the Colorado River in Texas, operated by Lower Colorado River Authority. It's the main flood-control reservoir for the Austin area. Its full summer pool sits at 681 ft above sea level. Live water levels come from USGS gauge 08154500 and update every 15 to 60 minutes.
Understanding Lake Travis's water level
Lake Travis is the flood-control heart of the Highland Lakes chain on the Colorado River, held behind Mansfield Dam on the western edge of Austin. The Lower Colorado River Authority operates it as the primary flood-control reservoir for the Austin area, which means it is deliberately kept with large empty space to catch storm runoff, and it also stores water supply, generates hydropower, and drives a busy recreation scene. Full pool is 681 feet above sea level, but that number is almost misleading, because Travis is designed to swing far more than most lakes as it fills with floods and is drawn down for supply.
That design gives Travis one of the widest ranges of any large U.S. reservoir, more than 96 feet between its extremes. The historic high was 710.4 feet on December 25, 1991, when floodwater filled the reservoir, and the historic low was 614.2 feet on August 14, 1951. Central Texas sits in flash-flood country, so Travis can rise dramatically after heavy rain, then fall for years during drought as its stored water is used: it dropped to 626.09 feet in November 2009 and to around 618 feet during the drought of 2010 to 2013. The lake is a buffer, so it is expected to move.
Because the level swings so widely, it shapes everything on the water. When Travis falls, coves turn to mud flats, rocky ledges and old structures that are normally submerged reappear, and low boat ramps end well short of the water while marinas extend their docks out to reach it. When it is full, the same shoreline disappears. Anglers chase largemouth and Guadalupe bass, white bass, striped bass, catfish and sunfish, and recreation spots like Hippie Hollow, Lago Vista and Point Venture all live and die by the current elevation, which is why locals check the Travis gauge before planning a day on the lake.
Lake Travis — frequently asked
Why does Lake Travis rise and fall so much?
Travis is the main flood-control reservoir for the Austin area, so the LCRA deliberately keeps large empty space in it to catch storm runoff, and it also draws on the lake for water supply. That combination, in a region prone to both flash floods and long droughts, gives Travis a range of more than 96 feet, far wider than an ordinary lake.
What is full pool for Lake Travis, and what are the records?
Full pool is 681 feet above sea level. The historic high was 710.4 feet on December 25, 1991, and the historic low was 614.2 feet on August 14, 1951, a span of over 96 feet between the two extremes.
Why does Lake Travis get so low in droughts?
As a flood-control and water-supply reservoir, Travis is drawn down during dry years to meet demand while little runoff comes in, so it can stay low for a long time. It fell to 626.09 feet in November 2009 and to around 618 feet during the 2010 to 2013 drought.
Why can Lake Travis rise so quickly?
Central Texas is flash-flood country, and Mansfield Dam is built to capture sudden, heavy runoff from the Colorado River. A single major storm can raise the lake substantially, as it did in reaching the 710.4-foot record in December 1991, after which the LCRA releases the water downstream.
What happens at Lake Travis when the water is low?
As the lake drops, coves become mud flats, normally submerged ledges and old structures reappear, and the shallowest boat ramps end short of the water, so marinas extend their docks and some ramps close. Boaters check which ramps still reach the lake before launching.
What is Lake Travis used for?
It provides flood control for the Austin area, stores water supply, and generates hydropower, while serving as a major recreation lake. Anglers fish for largemouth and Guadalupe bass, white bass, striped bass, catfish and sunfish, and its shoreline is lined with marinas and parks.
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