The situation
Floodgate operations are underway at Wirtz Dam and Starcke Dam to pass floodwaters from the Llano River downstream. The water is being passed through the dams into Lake Travis. Flows below the dams will be higher and faster than usual.
Floodgate operations
Current status
| Buchanan Dam / Lake Buchanan | No gate operations to pass floodwaters are expected | as of 10/2/26 at 8:45 AM |
| Inks Dam / Inks Lake | Flow over the spillway is not expected | as of 10/2/26 at 8:45 AM |
| Wirtz Dam / Lake LBJ | One gate is open. | as of 10/2/26 at 8:45 AM |
| Starcke Dam / Lake Marble Falls | Gate operations are underway | as of 10/2/26 at 8:45 AM |
| Mansfield Dam / Lake Travis | No gate operations to pass floodwaters are expected | as of 10/2/26 at 8:45 AM |
| Tom Miller Dam / Lake Austin | No gate operations to pass floodwaters are expected | as of 10/2/26 at 8:45 AM |
| Bastrop Dam / Lake Bastrop | No gate operations to pass floodwaters are expected | as of 10/2/26 at 8:40 AM |
Current lake levels
Lakes Buchanan and Travis are water supply reservoirs designed to fluctuate. Lake Travis is “full” at 681 feet above sea level, but its flood pool holds an additional 776,000 acre-feet (31 Lake Austins’ worth) to reduce downstream flooding.
The other four Highland Lakes – Inks, LBJ, Marble Falls and Austin – are pass-through lakes with no flood storage capacity. They typically operate within a one-foot range but can rise well above normal levels during floods.
Data above 100% indicates flood stage.
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Buchanan Forecast
The expected elevation range for Lake Buchanan over the next 24 to 48 hours is 1018.0 to 1018.5.
Travis Forecast
The expected elevation range for Lake Travis over the next 24 to 48 hours is 676 to 677.
Flood-related news releases
Flood resources
Free notifications that notify you when floodgate operations begin on the Highland Lakes
Current lake levels, dam and floodgate information
River levels — current and forecast conditions
System of 280+ rain/river gauges that provide near real-time data on rainfall, streamflow, river stage, temperature and humidity
More information on how LCRA handles floods in “Flash Flood Alley”
Insights from LCRA Meteorologist Bob Rose
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