Lake Travis Water Level FAQ

Question 1

What is the current Lake Travis water level?

Accepted Answer

The live water level is shown on our home page, updated roughly every 15 minutes from official LCRA measurements. It is reported in feet above sea level, along with how full the lake is as a percentage.

Question 2

What is considered a normal Lake Travis water level?

Accepted Answer

Lake Travis is considered full at 681 feet above sea level. Normal operating levels typically range from 665 to 681 feet. Levels below 650 feet are considered low, while levels above 681 feet mean the lake is in its flood pool.

Question 3

How often does the water level change?

Accepted Answer

Lake Travis changes daily based on rainfall, upstream releases, and water released through Mansfield Dam. During dry spells, the level typically drops 1–3 inches per week. After heavy rain, it can rise several feet in a matter of days.

Question 4

What affects Lake Travis water levels?

Accepted Answer

Several factors: rainfall in the Hill Country watershed, releases from upstream dams, water demand from cities and farms, hydroelectric power generation, and required environmental flows downstream.

Question 5

When is the best time to visit based on water levels?

Accepted Answer

It depends on your plans. For boating and water sports, levels above 670 feet give the best access to coves and marinas. For swimming and beach days, most areas are accessible when the lake is above 650 feet.

Question 6

How do water levels affect boating and marinas?

Accepted Answer

Low water can make boat ramps unusable and affect marina operations. Most ramps become difficult to use below 650 feet. Our boating page shows the live open/closed status of every public ramp on the lake.

Question 7

What level is needed for swimming and beaches?

Accepted Answer

Most swimming areas and beaches are accessible when the lake is above 640 feet. Some popular spots have smaller beaches or rockier shorelines when levels fall below 660 feet.

Question 8

What are the historical high and low levels?

Accepted Answer

The highest recorded level was 710.44 feet in 1991 — above the spillway. The lowest was 614.18 feet in 1951. In recent drought years the lake has dropped below 630 feet several times.

Question 9

How accurate are water level forecasts?

Accepted Answer

Forecasts combine weather predictions with historical patterns. Short-term forecasts (1–3 days) are generally reliable; further out, accuracy drops because rainfall is hard to predict.

Question 10

How do I stay updated on changes?

Accepted Answer

This site updates every 15 minutes — you can also tap "Get Updates" to subscribe. The LCRA publishes official data through its Hydromet system, and local news covers major changes.

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