Central Texas is blessed with a number of lakes that are popular for boating, fishing and other water recreation, but water levels are lower than normal this summer. Before you head out to Central Texas lakes for some summer fun, it's wise to check current conditions on the lake.

As of early August, 11 of the 12 boat ramps on Lake Travis, near Austin, were closed due to low water levels. Lake Travis, a serpentine lake with 286 miles of shoreline, is the most popular water recreation spot in the Highland Lakes chain in Central Texas.


Sometimes Islands on Lake Travis (courtesy rutlo Flickr CC)

After nearly two years of unrelenting drought and this summer's extreme heat, the water level in Lake Travis has dropped to 636 feet above mean sea level, which is about 30 feet below average for this time of year and the lowest level in 46 years. The low water levels expose land masses known as "sometimes islands" along with submerged trees which can pose dangers for boaters.

At Lake Buchanan near Burnet, three of the four public boat ramps are closed, but the popular Vanishing Texas River Cruise is still operating. Boat ramps are still open at Lake Marble Falls, Lake LBJ and Inks Lake.

Until we receive some significant rainfall, LCRA officials expect lake levels to continue to drop due to evaporation and to water being released for downstream use and power generation. Lake Travis and Lake Buchanan supply drinking water to nearly 1.1 million people in Central Texas.

The Highland Lakes were created from the 1930s to the 1950s by a series of dams built on the Colorado River to control flooding and supply water and electricity. The Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA) administers the lake system, which is much loved for water recreation.

Other lakes in the Austin area include Georgetown Lake, Stillhouse Hollow Lake, near Belton, and Granger Lake, near Taylor.