Lake LBJ flood zones and flood insurance
Bottom line: Lake LBJ cannot hold back floodwater, so when the Llano and Colorado rivers flood, the water passes through and the lake can rise well above normal, as it did in July 2025. Most homeowners policies do not cover flood. Lenders require flood insurance on federally backed loans for homes in FEMA's high-risk zones, and a new federal policy takes 30 days to start.
In short
- LCRA calls Lake LBJ a pass-through lake with no capacity to store floodwater. Only Lake Travis holds back floods.
- In July 2025, LCRA released water from Lake LBJ ahead of the Llano River flood, then opened floodgates at Wirtz and Starcke dams.
- Look up any address on FEMA's Flood Map Service Center.
- Federal (NFIP) flood insurance covers up to $250,000 for the building and $100,000 for contents.
- New NFIP policies have a 30-day waiting period, so buy before you need it.
Why can Lake LBJ flood if its level is usually steady?
LCRA runs Lake LBJ within about a foot of its normal level, but the lake has no room to store floodwater. When heavy rain hits the Llano River or the Colorado River upstream, the water flows through LBJ and the lake can rise well above normal. Lake Travis is the only Highland Lake built to capture floods.
LCRA describes this stretch of the Hill Country as "Flash Flood Alley," one of the riskiest areas for flash floods in the United States.
What happened in recent floods on Lake LBJ?
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| July 7, 2025 | LCRA planned to open floodgates at Wirtz and Starcke dams to pass Llano River runoff through Lake LBJ. It told people to stay off the lakes for several days because of debris, fast currents and high bacteria levels. |
| July 4, 2025 | The Llano River was forecast to crest around 26 feet at Llano. LCRA released water from Lake LBJ ahead of the floodwater, and owners were told to move boats and loose items to higher ground. |
| Early 2020 | LCRA lowered Lake LBJ four feet for eight weeks so owners could remove debris left by the 2018 floods and repair docks. |
| Oct. 16, 2018 | The Llano River crested at 39.91 feet, just under its record, and floodwater destroyed the RM 2900 bridge in Kingsland. LCRA closed Lake LBJ and other lakes. |
How do I find a Lake LBJ home's flood zone?
Enter the address on FEMA's Flood Map Service Center. FEMA released updated flood maps for Llano County in 2012. Ask the seller for flood history and any past flood claims.
| FEMA zone | What it means | Flood insurance required? |
|---|---|---|
| A | 1% annual chance flood area, no base flood elevation set | Yes, for federally backed loans |
| AE | 1% annual chance flood area, base flood elevation set | Yes, for federally backed loans |
| X (shaded) | 0.2% annual chance flood area | No, but still recommended |
| X (unshaded) | Outside the 0.2% annual chance area | No |
What does flood insurance cover and cost?
- Coverage: the federal National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) pays up to $250,000 for the structure and $100,000 for contents.
- Waiting period: new NFIP policies take effect after 30 days.
- Price: under FEMA's Risk Rating 2.0, each home is priced on its own flood risk, such as distance to water and elevation. Increases on existing policies are capped at 18% a year by law.
- Get a quote early: ask an insurance agent for an NFIP and a private flood quote before you make an offer. Price varies widely from home to home.
Questions and answers
- Does homeowners insurance cover flooding on Lake LBJ?
- Usually not. FEMA notes that flood damage is not covered by most homeowners insurance policies, so flood coverage is a separate policy.
- Do I need flood insurance if my home is in Zone X?
- Lenders do not require it in Zone X, but FEMA says floods can happen anywhere, and lake homes can see water rise during river floods.
- How long does a new flood insurance policy take to start?
- A new NFIP policy has a 30-day waiting period before it goes into effect.
- Can LCRA stop Lake LBJ from flooding?
- No. LCRA says Inks, LBJ, Marble Falls and Austin lakes have no capacity to store floodwater. Only Lake Travis is designed to hold back floods.
Questions about a specific Lake LBJ home?
Greg can walk you through what to check before you make an offer.
Talk with GregSources
Checked October 2026.
- LCRA: How the system of dams works in floods
- LCRA: Managing floods in Flash Flood Alley
- Highland Haven: Notice to waterfront owners (July 4, 2025)
- DailyTrib: LCRA says stay off lakes for now (July 7, 2025)
- FOX 7 Austin: LCRA lowers LBJ and Inks after 2018 floods (Jan. 2020)
- Roads & Bridges: RM 2900 bridge collapses near Kingsland (Oct. 2018)
- FEMA: Flood insurance coverage and waiting period
- FEMA: Risk Rating 2.0 (April 2025)
- FEMA Flood Map Service Center
- Pima County: FEMA flood zone definitions
- InsuranceNewsNet: New flood maps for Llano County (2012)