The situation
Multiple floodgates are open at Wirtz Dam and Starcke Dam to pass storm runoff downstream.
Lake Travis has risen almost 6 feet since yesterday. Lake Travis is expected to rise to a range of 682 to 684 feet above msl through Saturday.
Floodgate operations
Current status
| Buchanan Dam / Lake Buchanan | No gate operations to pass floodwaters are expected | as of 7/17/26 at 12:45 PM |
| Inks Dam / Inks Lake | Flow over the spillway is not expected (Inks Dam has no floodgates) | as of 7/17/26 at 12:45 PM |
| Wirtz Dam / Lake LBJ | Multiple gates are open. | as of 7/17/26 at 12:45 PM |
| Starcke Dam / Lake Marble Falls | Multiple gates are open. | as of 7/17/26 at 12:45 PM |
| Mansfield Dam / Lake Travis | No gate operations to pass floodwaters are expected | as of 7/17/26 at 12:45 PM |
| Miller Dam / Austin | No gate operations to pass floodwaters are expected | as of 7/17/26 at 12:45 PM |
| Bastrop Dam / Bastrop | No gate operations to pass floodwaters are expected | as of 7/17/26 at 12:40 PM |
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.
Fetching current lake level...
Fetching current lake level...
Fetching current lake level...
Fetching current lake level...
Fetching current lake level...
Fetching current lake level...
Buchanan Forecast
The level of Lake Buchanan is expected to remain in a range of 1019.0 to 1019.5 feet above msl through the weekend.
Travis Forecast
The level of Lake Travis is expected to rise to a range of 682 to 684 feet above msl through Saturday, July 18. Learn more about the flood pool at: https://www.lcra.org/water/flood-management/key-elevations-for-lake-travis-during-floods/
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
Social media