What is the normal water level of Lake LBJ?

LCRA lists Lake LBJ as full at 825 feet above sea level, with a normal operating range of 824.4 to 825 feet.

Why does Lake Travis go up and down but Lake LBJ does not?

Travis and Buchanan are water supply reservoirs that capture water in wet times and release it in dry times. LBJ is a pass-through lake LCRA keeps within about a foot of full.

Does Lake LBJ ever get lowered?

Yes, occasionally. LCRA lowered it four feet for eight weeks in early 2020 so owners could clear flood debris and repair docks.

How do I get flood alerts for Lake LBJ?

Sign up for LCRA's Flood Operations Notification Service (FONS), and check current levels on LCRA Hydromet.

Guides

Lake LBJ water level: how LCRA runs the Highland Lakes

By Greg Gaynor, Fokus Waterfront · Updated October 2026

Bottom line: In normal conditions, LCRA keeps Lake LBJ between 824.4 and 825 feet above sea level, so the water stays at your dock year-round. LBJ is one of four pass-through lakes LCRA runs in a narrow range. Lakes Buchanan and Travis are water supply reservoirs that rise and fall. LBJ can still rise in floods, and LCRA lowers it at times for maintenance.

In short

Lake LBJ's normal range is 824.4 to 825 feet, with full at 825 feet.
Inks, LBJ, Marble Falls and Austin are pass-through lakes run within about a foot of full.
Buchanan and Travis store water supply and swing much more. Travis has ranged from 614 to 710 feet.
LCRA says none of the Highland Lakes is truly constant-level.
LCRA lowered Lake LBJ four feet for eight weeks in early 2020 and now schedules drawdowns in the fall.

How do the six Highland Lakes compare?

Lake (dam)	Full (ft above sea level)	Normal range	Role
Buchanan (Buchanan Dam)	1,020	Rises and falls	Water supply reservoir
Inks (Inks Dam)	887.7	886.9 to 887.7	Pass-through
LBJ (Wirtz Dam)	825	824.4 to 825	Pass-through
Marble Falls (Starcke Dam)	737	736.2 to 737	Pass-through
Travis (Mansfield Dam)	681	Rises and falls	Water supply and flood storage
Austin (Tom Miller Dam)	492.8	491.8 to 492.8	Pass-through

Lake LBJ also serves hydroelectric power and the cooling reservoir for LCRA's Thomas C. Ferguson Power Plant.

Is Lake LBJ a constant-level lake?

People often call it one, and in everyday use the level barely moves. LCRA's own answer is that none of the Highland Lakes is a constant-level lake. The pass-through lakes are "generally operated within a small range," but they can rise during floods and are lowered at times on purpose.

By comparison, Lake Travis has ranged from 614.18 to 710.44 feet in its history, and Buchanan from 983.7 to 1,021.4 feet.

When does LCRA lower Lake LBJ?

LCRA occasionally lowers a pass-through lake to control nuisance plants and give owners time to repair docks, walls and ramps.

Lake LBJ, early 2020: lowered four feet for eight weeks after the 2018 floods. LCRA said it cannot lower LBJ more than four feet without interfering with operations.
Inks Lake, fall 2025: lowered about eight feet from Oct. 1 to late November. LCRA now schedules drawdowns in the fall and decides each year which lakes, if any, to lower.
Lake Austin, fall 2026: lowered about 10 feet from Oct. 12 through Nov. 30.

Where can I check the lake level today?

LCRA's Hydromet shows near real-time lake levels, river flows and rainfall from about 275 gauges. Sign up for LCRA's Flood Operations Notification Service (FONS) to get flood alerts for the Highland Lakes.

Questions and answers

What is the normal water level of Lake LBJ?: LCRA lists Lake LBJ as full at 825 feet above sea level, with a normal operating range of 824.4 to 825 feet.
Why does Lake Travis go up and down but Lake LBJ does not?: Travis and Buchanan are water supply reservoirs that capture water in wet times and release it in dry times. LBJ is a pass-through lake LCRA keeps within about a foot of full.
Does Lake LBJ ever get lowered?: Yes, occasionally. LCRA lowered it four feet for eight weeks in early 2020 so owners could clear flood debris and repair docks.
How do I get flood alerts for Lake LBJ?: Sign up for LCRA's Flood Operations Notification Service (FONS), and check current levels on LCRA Hydromet.

Thinking about selling on Lake LBJ?

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Sources

Checked October 2026.