After years of low levels due to drought conditions, spring rains helped the Highland Lakes rebound to a combined 75 percent full. The lakes maintained most of their depth during a hot and dry summer, and it is expected they will continue to improve heading into fall.
Lake Travis is about five feet above its historical average for this time of year, and Lake Buchanan is about three feet below its historical average.
While this spring’s heavy rains helped Colorado River levels in central Texas, they also helped relieve the need for downstream releases, a large factor in sustaining lake levels. Heading into the fall and winter, the El Nino effect, which usually leads to wetter than normal conditions, is expected to further improve lake levels.
Read more at the Lower Colorado River Authority River Report.