Texas Reservoir Fills to Levels Not Seen in 20 Years

Excessive rainfall this month has eliminated much of the drought across Texas, with some lakes jumping more than 30 feet in less than two weeks. Among the lakes witnessing a significant rise is Lake Buchanan, a popular reservoir in Central Texas.

Why It Matters

Texas has battled years of drought that have seen many of its popular reservoirs’ water levels plunge to dangerously low levels. For example, in 2023, water levels at Lake Travis became so low they revealed previously hidden pecan groves and a concrete plant.

Lake Buchanan has seen similarly volatile water levels in recent years. A year ago, the levels were 73 percent full. As of the most recent measurements, levels were 99.8 percent full, according to Water Data for Texas, which is considered full capacity for the lake.

What to Know

Over Independence Day weekend, torrential rain battered Central Texas, prompting the swift and significant rise of area rivers that brought deadly floods throughout the region. More than 100 people died.

Nearly two weeks later, the water has worked its way into area lakes and reservoirs. Water levels at Lake Travis continue to rise, and Lake Buchanan was recently considered full when its levels hit 1,020 feet.

Although Lake Buchanan was considered full in 2019 when its levels hit 1,018 feet, the reservoir hasn’t hit the 1,020-foot level since March 2005, KXAN reported.

The Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA), which manages Lake Buchanan, opened the floodgates at Buchanan Dam to let out some of the water earlier this week.

“Unlike Lake Travis, Lake Buchanan has no room to store floodwaters after it is full. LCRA manages Lake Buchanan to a maximum level of 1,020 feet above mean sea level,” an LCRA report on flood management said.

The floodgates were closed on Wednesday afternoon, an LCRA spokesperson told Newsweek.

“Floodwater from Lake Buchanan was sent downstream through the series of dams on the Highland Lakes to Lake Travis, the only lake on the Highland Lakes with room to store floodwaters,” the spokesperson said. “Our short-term projections are that Lake Travis will rise up to 675 feet above mean sea level over the next several days. As of 3:40 pm Central Time today Lake Travis is at 673.79 ft msl, or 88% full.”

What People Are Saying

An LCRA spokesperson previously told Newsweek: “We have seen similar relatively large increases in the history of Lake Travis, which is in Flash Flood Alley.”

LCRA posted on X, formerly Twitter, earlier this week: “Floodgate operations from Lake Buchanan today. LCRA opened a total of four floodgates at Buchanan Dam on July 14 – the first floodgate operations there since May 2019. This coordinated response helps manage significant water inflows across the Highland Lakes system.”

CBS Austin reporter Bettie Cross posted on X: “Lake Buchanan hasn’t looked like this in 15 years. It’s 100% full. The LCRA is preparing to open 2 floodgates this afternoon. It will be the first time the @LCRA has opened a floodgate at Buchanan Dam since 2019.”

What Happens Next

Water levels at Texas lakes and reservoirs will change throughout the summer depending on heat, water usage, and if there’s continued rainfall in the region.