Inks Lake: Fall 2025 Information

LCRA occasionally lowers the pass-through lakes to allow repairs that are difficult when water levels are full.

This October, LCRA is lowering Inks Lake to give property owners the opportunity to remove debris, dredge, and work on docks, retaining walls and other infrastructure.

Inks Lake lowering details

  • Timeline: Begins Oct. 1, at a 1 foot a day until lowered 8 feet by Oct. 9
  • Target level: 879-879.5 feet above mean sea level
  • Refill dates: Nov. 24-28
  • Water release: 5,000 acre-feet through hydroelectric generators
  • Impact: Lake Travis will rise 3½ inches as it captures the water that flows downstream

Registration requirements

Register to perform the following projects:

  • Dredging
  • Removing debris
  • Making shoreline structure improvements to retaining walls, boat slips and boat launches

Dock repairs do not require registration, but all work must comply with the Safety Standards for Residential Docks on the Highland Lakes.

REGISTER NOW

LCRA has a lakewide permit from the Army Corps of Engineers that covers authorized activities during the drawdown.

All new construction of retaining walls, boat ramps, and channels must meet requirements of LCRA’s Highland Lakes Dredge and Fill Ordinance.

Allowed and prohibited activities

Equipment and tools should not be left in the lakebed unattended and should be removed from the shoreline when not in use. Burning in the lakebed is not permitted.

Work allowed under LCRA’s permit
  • Dredging up to 2,000 cubic yards of material to maintain waterway access and navigability
  • Repairing existing structures such as retaining walls, boat slips or boat launches
  • Clearing debris from the lakeshore

Requirements: Dredged areas and material must be:

  • Gradually sloped and smoothed to blend into the existing channel bottom contour and to prevent any irregular surfaces or cuts that might collapse or erode
  • Removed from the lakebed
  • Disposed of above 888 feet msl – above the top of Inks Lake’s target operating range
  • Protected with temporary erosion controls until it can be structurally contained or permanently stabilized with vegetation, so that it does not re-enter the lake

See the lakewide permit for more.

Work not allowed
  • Adding fill material below 888 feet msl to repair existing retaining walls or bulkheads
  • Replacing retaining walls
  • More than 500 feet of shoreline work
  • Dredging more than 2,000 cubic yards
  • Reclaiming land lost to erosion or flood damage
  • Disposing dredged material on sandbars or islands in the lakebed or along the shoreline

 

More FAQs

Why is LCRA lowering the lake slowly over eight days?

Lowering the lake slowly protects shorelines, reduces the potential for erosion and gives the aquatic ecosystem time to adjust to changing levels.

How will Inks Lake be refilled?
Inks Lake will be refilled with water released from Lake Buchanan. Without additional rain, the refill could cause Lake Buchanan to fall less than 3 inches.
What if it floods or there is a power emergency during the drawdown?

Floods or power emergencies could change or cause LCRA to cancel the drawdown to pass water through the Highland Lakes. Water released from Buchanan Dam could cause Inks Lake levels to rise significantly. Note:

  • Remove tools from shoreline when not in use
  • Don’t leave equipment unattended in the lakebed
Why does LCRA lower lakes? 

LCRA occasionally lowers the pass-through lakes to provide lakeside property owners an opportunity to maintain docks, retaining walls and shoreline structures “in the dry” rather than underwater. LCRA also occasionally lowers a pass-through lake when needed for projects at dams along the Highland Lakes, or to provide property owners an opportunity to perform post-flood cleanup.

LCRA shifted the timing for routine lake lowerings from winter to fall after Winter Storm Uri to keep hydroelectric generators fully operational during peak winter demand.  LCRA generally does not lower a lake more than once every four years.

Why is LCRA lowering Inks Lake this year and not the other pass-through lakes?
LCRA decided to lower Inks Lake based on the length of time since the last drawdown, conditions on the lake and the relatively small amount of water needed to refill from Lake Buchanan.

The last lake lowering was in 2022, when LCRA lowered Lake Marble Falls for work at Starcke Dam. The last routine lake lowering on the Highland Lakes occurred at Inks Lake and Lake LBJ in 2020.

Will boats be allowed on Inks Lake during the drawdown?

Boating is allowed on the lake during the drawdown. However, access to the water from boat ramps will be limited. Boaters should use caution and keep an eye out for potential hazards as the level of the lake changes.

When was the last time Inks Lake was lowered?
LCRA last lowered Inks Lake in 2020.
Will any of the Highland Lakes be lowered in 2026?
The decision will be made in fall 2026 based on conditions at that time.

If you have questions or need more information, contact LCRA Water Quality Protection at 512-578-2324 or [email protected].

RESOURCES

View the fact sheet.
Read the news release.