Austin Cancels Lake Austin Drawdown Over Concerns About Fall Events
Posted: Mon, 28 Sep 2026 06:55 PM - 9 Readers
By: KLBJ News
The City of Austin has canceled a planned fall drawdown of Lake Austin. The lake was set to be lowered from Oct. 12 through Nov. 30 so property owners could work on docks, boat slips, retaining walls, and other shoreline structures and clear sediment and debris. After talks with lakefront owners and businesses, officials said the timing would clash with fall weddings, University of Texas football, and Formula 1, and would hurt local businesses and recreation.
Some stakeholders wanted to push the work to January or February 2027. The Lower Colorado River Authority said that is not an option. After Winter Storm Uri in 2021, LCRA stopped winter drawdowns so Highland Lakes hydroelectric plants stay available during extreme cold. The city decided the fall window created too many conflicts and winter was not viable. Officials say they will keep working with LCRA and lake stakeholders on a future date. None has been announced.
