What is the water level of Lake Austin today?

This page shows LCRA’s latest reading from Tom Miller Dam at the top, checked every 30 minutes. LCRA holds Lake Austin between 491.8 and 492.8 ft above mean sea level outside floods and drawdowns.

Is Lake Austin being drawn down?

Only when the City of Austin asks LCRA to lower it, for shoreline repairs, sediment and debris removal or temporary vegetation control. The last drawdown was in early 2017. The City canceled the drawdown planned for 2026 on September 24, 2026, and says winter drawdowns are no longer done, to keep hydropower available in cold weather.

Why does Lake Austin stay level when Lake Travis drops?

Lake Travis stores water; Lake Austin is a pass-through lake. LCRA keeps Lake Austin in its narrow range and passes Mansfield Dam’s releases on through Tom Miller Dam, so drought shows up upstream at Travis instead.

What are Lake Austin’s record high and low?

In LCRA’s records the highest level is 495.2 ft, on May 25, 1981, and the lowest is 474.3 ft, on February 17, 1963.

Is Lake Austin the same as Lady Bird Lake?

No. Lake Austin is above Tom Miller Dam, in the hills west of downtown. Lady Bird Lake is the next stretch of the river, through downtown Austin, and is not one of LCRA’s six Highland Lakes.

Lake Austin water level

The river-like lake inside Austin’s western city limits, between Mansfield Dam and Tom Miller Dam. LCRA holds it within a foot of 492 ft.

Lake Austin now

LCRA reading Nov 14, 5:50 PM CST

Past 24 hours: —
Tom Miller Dam releasing: —

Past 7 days

—

Loading the week’s readings…

At Tom Miller Dam

Nov 14, 3:50 PM CST

Floodgates: Gates closed
Releasing: No current reading
Last full day: —
Below the dam: 430.9 ft
Without floodgates: 3,720 cfsthe most it releases without opening a floodgate

LCRA on the gates:: No gate operations to pass floodwaters are expected.
Inflows:: Inflows to Lake Austin are below levels that would require gate operations to pass floodwaters at Tom Miller Dam.
Forecast:: The level of Lake Austin is expected to remain within its normal operating range.

Releases can start suddenly — stay out of the water near the dams. Unofficial copy of LCRA’s flood operations report.

Hour-by-hour releases at Tom Miller Dam

Water in and out

Comes in from

Lake TravisThrough Mansfield Dam—

Goes out to

Lady Bird LakeThrough Tom Miller Dam, then on down the Colorado—

Rivers: LCRA gauges, as of Nov 14, 3:41 PM. Dam releases: LCRA’s latest measured hour.

Lake Travis water level todayLake Austin is fed by Mansfield Dam’s releases from Lake Travis.681.4 ftAbove full pool

About Lake Austin

Lake Austin runs 20.25 river miles from Mansfield Dam to Tom Miller Dam, winding through the hills inside Austin’s western city limits. LCRA holds it between 491.8 and 492.8 ft. It is the last of the Highland Lakes: below Tom Miller Dam the river becomes Lady Bird Lake.

Tom Miller Dam was finished in 1940 on the site of the old Austin Dam, whose reservoir was Lake McDonald. The City of Austin owns the dam and LCRA operates it. The lake supplies city water as well as hydropower.

When the City asks, LCRA lowers Lake Austin for shoreline repairs, sediment and debris removal or vegetation control. The last drawdown was in early 2017, and on September 24, 2026, the City canceled the one planned for 2026.

Key facts

DamTom Miller Dam, 1940
OwnerCity of Austin
OperatorLCRA
Normal range491.8–492.8 ft
Surface area1,830 acres
Capacity24,644 acre-ft (2008 survey)
Length20.25 river miles
Record high495.2 ft · May 25, 1981
Record low474.3 ft · Feb 17, 1963
CountyTravis

Parks on Lake Austin

Public places to get on or near the water. Check each operator for hours, fees and closures before you go.

All six Highland Lakes

Upstream to downstream along the Colorado River. Lake Buchanan and Lake Travis store water; the other four pass it through.

Lake Austin questions

Levels, releases and how Lake Austin fits into the Highland Lakes.

What is the water level of Lake Austin today?
This page shows LCRA’s latest reading from Tom Miller Dam at the top, checked every 30 minutes. LCRA holds Lake Austin between 491.8 and 492.8 ft above mean sea level outside floods and drawdowns.
Is Lake Austin being drawn down?
Only when the City of Austin asks LCRA to lower it, for shoreline repairs, sediment and debris removal or temporary vegetation control. The last drawdown was in early 2017. The City canceled the drawdown planned for 2026 on September 24, 2026, and says winter drawdowns are no longer done, to keep hydropower available in cold weather.
Why does Lake Austin stay level when Lake Travis drops?
Lake Travis stores water; Lake Austin is a pass-through lake. LCRA keeps Lake Austin in its narrow range and passes Mansfield Dam’s releases on through Tom Miller Dam, so drought shows up upstream at Travis instead.
Who owns Tom Miller Dam?
The City of Austin. LCRA operates it. The dam was finished in 1940 on the site of the old Austin Dam, whose reservoir was Lake McDonald.
What are Lake Austin’s record high and low?
In LCRA’s records the highest level is 495.2 ft, on May 25, 1981, and the lowest is 474.3 ft, on February 17, 1963.
Is Lake Austin the same as Lady Bird Lake?
No. Lake Austin is above Tom Miller Dam, in the hills west of downtown. Lady Bird Lake is the next stretch of the river, through downtown Austin, and is not one of LCRA’s six Highland Lakes.