Volumetric Surveys of the Highland Lakes
As a best practice, LCRA periodically performs volumetric surveys of the Highland Lakes to provide updated information for water resources planning and flood operations. LCRA contracted with the Texas Water Development Board for the latest surveys of lakes Buchanan, Inks, LBJ, Marble Falls and Travis.
Lake Buchanan and Lake Travis
The TWDB Lake Buchanan volumetric survey published in 2020 determined the lake has a reservoir capacity of 880,356 acre-feet and encompasses 22,452 acres at its conservation pool elevation of 1,020 feet above mean sea level (feet msl). The previous survey completed in 2006 determined Lake Buchanan encompassed 22,017 acres. The 2020 survey defined the lake as having a slightly larger area than the 2006 survey, resulting in the conservation storage increasing.
The TWDB Lake Travis volumetric survey published in 2021 determined the lake has a reservoir capacity of 1,115,076 acre-feet and encompasses 19,044 acres at its conservation pool elevation of 681 feet msl. The previous survey completed in 2008 determined Lake Travis encompassed 19,297 acres. The 2021 volumetric survey determined the flood pool at Lake Travis is now 776,062 acre-feet.
| Lake Buchanan Storage at 1,020 feet msl |
Lake Travis Storage at 681 feet msl |
Combined Storage when Full |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020/2021 Survey Conservation Storage | 880,356 | 1,115,076 | 1,995,432 |
| 2006/2008 Survey Conservation Storage | 875,588 | 1,134,956 | 2,010,544 |
| Percent Change in Storage | +0.54% | -1.75% | -0.75% |
Units in acre-feet.
LCRA began using the updated values for lakes Buchanan and Travis on May 27, 2021.
Lakes Inks, LBJ and Marble Falls
The TWDB Inks Lake volumetric survey published in 2022 determined the lake has a reservoir capacity of 13,772 acre-feet and encompasses 798 acres at 887.7 feet msl, near the top of its normal operating range. The previous survey completed in 2007 determined Inks Lake encompassed 777 acres.
The TWDB Lake LBJ volumetric survey published in 2021 determined the lake has a reservoir capacity of 131,618 acre-feet and encompasses 6,432 acres at 825 feet msl, near the top of its normal operating range. The previous survey completed in 2007 determined Lake LBJ encompassed 6,275 acres.
The TWDB Lake Marble Falls volumetric survey published in 2021 determined the lake has a reservoir capacity of 7,597 acre-feet and encompasses 613 acres at 737 feet msl, near the top of its normal operating range. The previous survey completed in 2007 determined Lake Marble Falls encompassed 591 acres.
| Inks Lake Storage at 887.7 feet msl |
Lake LBJ Storage at 825 feet msl |
Lake Marble Falls Storage at 737 feet msl |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 Survey Conservation Storage | 13,772 | 131,618 | 7,597 |
| 2007 Survey Conservation Storage | 13,668 | 133,216 | 7,186 |
| Percent Change in Storage | +0.8% | -1.2% | +5.7% |
Units in acre-feet.
TWDB advises that comparison of volumetric surveys to estimate changes in area and capacity due to sedimentation should be done with caution because of differences in past and present survey methodologies.
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