Q: How can I access historical data from your weather and river gauges?

A: Check LCRA’s Hydromet Web site. Click on "historical reports;" you'll get a pull-down menu. Select the gauge, start and end dates and time periods, and the information you want; then click on the "Get Historic Data" button. Data for some gauges date back to 1991, depending on when the gauge was installed.

Q: I am selling my home in a Highland Lakes community. Do I have to have my septic system reinspected?

A: Yes. When you sell your house, LCRA must inspect your septic system before the new owner moves in. Before the inspection, you may need to pump out the septic tank if you haven’t done so in the past five years, refilling it with water to the tank outlet. If you have any other questions, call our Onsite Sewage Facilities Program team at
1-800-776-5272, Ext. 3216, or send an e-mail to watershed@lcra.org.

Q: Do LCRA parks honor federal or state park passes?

A: No, because LCRA is neither a state nor federal agency and so isn’t part of either park system. However, you can save money by purchasing a passbook of 25 coupons (each worth $1) for $20 (a 20 percent discount) and use the coupons to pay your entrance fees at LCRA parks. For other cost-saving options, visit LCRA parks’ Web page.

Q: I am interested in locating public boat ramps on the river in the
Austin-Bastrop area.

A: The Lower Colorado River User’s Guide has information on access points for the entire 290-mile segment of the river from Austin to the Gulf of Mexico. To learn how to obtain a free copy while they last, e-mail parks@lcra.org.

Q: Does Tom Miller Dam generate hydroelectricity?
I’m betting $20 that it doesn’t.

A: You lose that bet. Tom Miller Dam generates hydroelectricity, as do all of LCRA’s other Highland Lakes dams: Buchanan, Inks, Wirtz, Starcke and Mansfield. The dams generate electricity as they release water for downstream use, contributing to LCRA’s role as a leader in renewable energy sources. And they can generate electricity on short notice when emergency power is needed quickly for peak demand periods, such as during freezing or hot weather.

Have a question about LCRA or its operations, facilities and programs?
E-mail your question to ASKLCRA@lcra.org.

Hydromet weather and river gauge.

Tom Miller Dam