LCRA streamlines access to flood data and safety resources
Real-time lake levels, dam operations and emergency alerts in one mobile-friendly hub
Feb. 25, 2026
Key Takeaways
- LCRA’s new flood information page provides real-time data, tools and ways to keep track of flood conditions on the Highland Lakes.
- The page consolidates critical information, including live lake levels, rainfall totals, and Highland Lakes dam operations, into a single platform.
- Users can sign up for free emergency alerts about flood releases on the Highland Lakes, review historical flood data, and monitor rising lake levels.
AUSTIN, Texas – The Lower Colorado River Authority has reimagined and rebuilt its flood information portal following the region’s devastating July 2025 floods, making it easier for people to see critical flood information about the Highland Lakes.
The redesigned, dynamic webpage consolidates real-time flood data, floodgate operations along the Highland Lakes, and other information into a single hub that is useful to everyone from water experts to new lakeside residents.
Why it matters to Central Texas
Steep terrain, shallow soils and intense rainfall can turn streams into torrents within minutes in Flash Flood Alley. The 2025 floods and earlier events underscored how quickly conditions can change and how important clear information is when rivers and streams are rising.
New graphics show real-time lake levels. Lake Buchanan pictured.
What’s new
- Current operations at dams along the Highland Lakes prominently displayed at the top of the page allowing the public and local officials to view real-time information on how many floodgates are open at each dam.
- Improved graphics illustrate real-time lake levels on the Highland Lakes.
- Forecast information for lakes Buchanan and Travis is readily available.
- Mobile-friendly design updates automatically as conditions change.
Built for emergencies
During floods, people need to quickly assess conditions and make decisions about safety and property.
The LCRA development team tested the previous webpage and determined that someone unfamiliar with the basin might not be able to navigate it quickly during an emergency. Developers designed a more user-friendly page and translated complex Hydromet data into formats that are easier to understand.
The page explains how the Highland Lakes are managed as a system and how upstream storms can affect downstream communities. Lakes Buchanan and Travis fluctuate regularly as water supply reservoirs, while the other four are pass-through lakes with no flood storage. Understanding these differences can help people better understand how rising lake levels may affect communities.
How to prepare
- Visit and bookmark lcra.org/flood to see the new page.
- Sign up for LCRA’s Flood Operations Notification Service, a free service that will call, text and/or email when flood operations begin at dams along the Highland Lakes or Lake Bastrop.
About LCRA
The Lower Colorado River Authority serves communities across Texas by managing the lower Colorado River, generating and transmitting wholesale electric power, providing clean water supplies, operating telecommunications infrastructure, and owning parks for outdoor recreation. LCRA delivers power, water and infrastructure that support the region’s growth and quality of life. 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. Created by the Texas Legislature in 1934, LCRA receives no state appropriations.
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