Lake Austin will be temporarily lowered by about 10 feet this fall at the request of the City of Austin, with the Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA) drawing down the lake between Mansfield Dam and Tom Miller Dam from October 12 through November 30. The action aims to control the spread of invasive hydrilla—an aggressive aquatic weed that forms dense mats clogging waterways and disrupting recreation—while giving shoreline property owners and city departments better access to repair docks, bulkheads, boat slips, remove debris, and manage vegetation. The lake, currently at 492.08 feet above mean sea level, will drop no more than about one foot per day toward a target range of 481.8 to 482.8 feet; it will then be refilled from November 24–30, rising about two feet per day. Public boat ramps will close and swimming will be prohibited at Emma Long Metropolitan Park during the drawdown.
The lowering responds to stakeholder requests from last summer after hydrilla interfered with docks and water activities, though some fishermen noted the plant can improve fish habitats. Austin Development Services is creating a special permit process for minor repairs during this period. Occasional water releases from Mansfield Dam may keep levels slightly higher at the lake’s upper end to meet downstream needs. The drawdown is expected to take up to three weeks depending on conditions.
If your route to the lake crosses Mansfield Dam, build in some extra time. TxDOT crews are working on the RM 620 bridge in front of the dam, repairing expansion joints, upgradin...
Early voting for the Nov. 3 midterm election opens Monday, Oct. 19, and runs through Friday, Oct. 30. Registered Travis County voters can use any countywide polling site during...
The first strong cold front of the fall is expected to push through the Austin area early Friday, Oct. 16, and boaters on Lake Travis should plan for rough conditions. According...
