Avoid the Highland Lakes at night, use extra caution during day

Debris and bacteria still an issue after recent flooding

July 10, 2025

AUSTIN, Texas – With debris from recent flooding still an issue in parts of the Highland Lakes, the Lower Colorado River Authority is urging people to use extra caution on the lakes and to avoid being on the lakes at night.

Bacteria levels typically remain elevated for a couple of weeks after flood events, and swimmers risk coming in contact with E. coli and other bacteria. Swimmers should particularly avoid stagnant, smelly or discolored water in the lakes.

On July 6, LCRA recommended everyone avoid being on lakes Buchanan, Inks, LBJ, Marble Falls and Travis because of flood debris, bacteria and fast flows. Since then, flood operations at dams along the lakes have concluded, and flood debris has begun to settle out.

“Conditions for boating are better than they were a few days ago, but still require extra caution,” said John Hofmann, LCRA executive vice president of Water. “Our crews have located and replaced most of the missing marker buoys damaged or displaced by the floods, but boaters still need to be extremely careful to avoid flood debris.”

The City of Marble Falls has closed Lake Marble Falls, but the other Highland Lakes remain open.

LCRA recommends:

• • Boaters avoid being on the lakes at night, as there is still a significant amount of flood debris as well as boats and boat docks that were moved downstream by the floodwaters. “Boating at night carries inherent risks, but it’s even more dangerous when unlit debris is around,” Hofmann said.
  • Boaters slow down. “We encourage people to closely watch for debris on the surface of the water and under the surface,” he said.
  • Swimming only in clear areas of the lakes to reduce chances of coming in contact with bacteria. The lakes are not chlorinated swimming pools, and there always is a chance of encountering bacteria in them. “We know that bacteria levels are typically elevated for at least a couple of weeks after a flood, and we know from experience that smelly, cloudy and stagnant water are prime areas for bacteria,” Hofmann said.

LCRA does not conduct water quality tests immediately after a flood because the results would be good only for the specific location at the time the test was conducted. Conditions can change rapidly with additional rainfall and inflows, as well as when flood debris and bacteria move around the lake. The results would be outdated quickly and would not be helpful in making decisions about whether to enter the water.

The Highland Lakes received significant rainfall over the last week, with widespread totals of 8-10 inches of rain, and isolated totals of up to 22 inches of rain.

Since 7 a.m. Friday, July 4, Lake Buchanan has risen more than 11 feet, and Lake Travis has risen more than 23 feet. In that period, combined storage in the two lakes, the two water supply reservoirs in the Highland Lakes, rose from 53% to more than 76% of capacity.

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.

Contact Info