LCRA advises everyone to stay off the Highland Lakes for the next few days
LCRA advises everyone to stay off the lakes for now
July 6, 2025
LCRA strongly recommends that everyone stay off lakes Buchanan, Inks, LBJ, Marble Falls and Travis for the immediate future because of flood debris, fast-moving currents and bacteria levels that traditionally increase after a flood event. The City of Austin, which manages Lake Austin, earlier closed that lake.
“Safety is our top priority, and it’s not safe to be on the lakes now under the conditions we’re seeing,” said John Hofmann, LCRA executive vice president of Water. “We’ll continue to evaluate the lakes daily and will let you know when conditions improve enough for us to remove the advisory.”
Hofmann noted that while the lakes remain open, LCRA advises everyone to avoid being on the water until further notice.
The advisory today expands an advisory that LCRA issued July 5 regarding Lake LBJ, Lake Marble Falls and Lake Travis.
LCRA does not have floodgate operations underway at this time, but with additional rain in the forecast, it is possible that may change later in the day. Land in the Hill County is saturated, and additional rainfall will result in more storm runoff. During the recent flood event, LCRA had flood operations at Inks, Wirtz, Starcke, Tom Miller and Lake Bastrop dams.
Since July 3, Lake Buchanan has risen more than 7 feet and Lake Travis is up more than 18 feet. Current projections show that Lake Buchanan is expected to rise an additional 5 to 6 feet and Lake Travis is expected to rise an additional 2 to 3 feet.
About LCRA
The Lower Colorado River Authority serves customers and communities throughout Texas by managing the lower Colorado River; generating and transmitting electric power; providing a clean, reliable water supply; and offering outdoor adventures at more than 40 parks along the Colorado River from the Texas Hill Country to the Gulf Coast. LCRA and its employees are committed to fulfilling our mission to enhance the quality of life of the Texans we serve through water stewardship, energy and community service. LCRA was created by the Texas Legislature in 1934 and receives no state appropriations.
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