Colorado River of Texas
12 galleries
The Colorado River of Texas, flows over 800 miles from the high plains of the panhandle down to Magagorda Bay on the Gulf Coast. Along the way it is allocated many times over for agriculture, municipal water supplies including Austin, power plants, rice farmers, and ultimately a beneficial flow to sustain the estuaries and fisheries of the bay. This is an evolving series as I work to explore this critical water supply for so many Texans.
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6 imagesGreat access and views of the Colorado River upstream from the Highland Lakes is at Colorado Bend State Park. Two hours from Austin, this pristine site offers great views, fishing access and trails along pristine clear springs that feed the Colorado River.
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20 imagesLake Buchanan, on the Colorado River, is the upstream reservoir in the chain of Highland Lakes that provide the water supply for Austin and surrounding cities. It is managed by LCRA. During the worst of the 2013 drought it bottomed out at 37% capacity calling for strict conservation. Floods in 2016 and 2018 have broken the drought and for the time being returned the lake to more comfortable levels.
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8 imagesThe Highland Lakes on the Colorado form the water supply for Austin and surrounding areas. Managed by LCRA, the lakes between Lake Buchanan and Lake Travis are pass through lakes including, Inks, LBJ and Marble Falls.
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17 imagesThe Narrows Recreation Area is a Colorado River access point near Spicewood, Texas. You can quietly enjoy fishing or splashing in the water. It's just upstream of Lake Travis - Austin's primary water reservoir and a sensitive point where almost all of the inflow to Lake Travis passes through - the singular water supply for over a million people in the Austin/Central Texas region. Needless to say - it's important! It's centered in Texas flood alley. Most of the time the flow is small - and now diminishing rapidly with increased usage upstream, reduced spring flow due to aquifer depletion and, of course, climate change. The Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA), who manages the river, likes to look at historical data for river flows rather than forward projections - so a real train wreck is possible with regard to Austin's water supply. The system oscillates between droughts - very common - and massive floods - once in a rare while. As long as the floods fill the reservoirs just in time, catastrophe is averted. The odds are not improving. The Narrows visualizes this whole gamble. Almost all of the time you could drag your canoe across this narrow point to continue downstream to Austin. Once in a while - as in 2018 - floods fill the whole valley with torrents of water, filling Lake Travis and buying Austin a bit more time. Given the relentless march of climate change, where do your place your bets?
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17 imagesMuleshoe Bend Park is a beautiful reception and camping area located on a sandy bend in the Colorado River as part of Lake Travis. When the lake is high - as we all hope for - there is good river access for camping, boating and fishing. When the lake level is low the sandy shores are exposed - and in the right years - can produce an abundance of Texas Bluebonnets - acres and acres. We always hope for the water - and the bluebonnets - but at Muleshoe Bend it's one or the other. These photos are from 2015. This year, 2023 is another low lake year - 46% of capacity - that looks to be good for bluebonnets.
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13 imagesMansfield Dam is the primary dam that holds Austin's water supply in Lake Travis. In drought years like this one - 2023 - Sometimes Island is visible behind the dam indicating low water. In this case, 46% of capacity. In flood years like 2018, the reservoir can refill in flash flood conditions. It's a delicate and risky game of chance with nature.
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41 imagesDrought years like 2013 - 33 % of capacity - and 2023 - currently 46% heading into March - can spell the need for conservation in the Austin Metro area. As a starting point! Low lake levels and challenges for boaters and waterfront homeowners are only symbolic visual reminders of the serious concerns for the population of Austin and Central Texas and the folks downstream. I once heard from a co-worker in the 2013 drought - "Well they's just have to bring the water in." Little did she realize the scale of the problem. A few truckloads of bottled water won't keep a population of over a million going.
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25 imagesThe pole on the highpoint of Sometimes Island is a sensitive barometer of Austin's water situation. In good times - when Lakes Travis is full - this pole will be barely sticking out of the water as a caution to boaters. When drought strikes as in 2013 - and shaping up again in 2023 - you can hike across Sometimes Island almost to the west shore. There the Oasis Restaurant towers above Lake Travis for signature sunset views. Seeing the Oasis from ground level can be a sobering reminder of the critical balance that Austin faces between drought and floods. I'm always happy when I can't hike on Sometimes Island.
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33 imagesLake Travis, on the Colorado River, is the primary water supply for Austin, Texas. These aerial photos from 2008 capture various areas of Lake Travis during the good years of a nearly full reservoir. These represent the good years where Sometimes Island is underwater, lake front property is desirable and boat ramps are busy.
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19 imagesHeld at a constant level y the Tom Miller Dam as the intake of Austin's water supply, Lake Austin is often seen as party lake with rich homes, fast boats and a major country club. Most people see the lake while crossing the dramatic Pennybaker Bridge on Loop 360.
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22 imagesLady Bird Lake on the Colorado River forms the heart of Austin. Surrounded by a 10 mile hike and bike trail it is the center of all year outdoor activity. The clear waters of Barton Creek flow into the lake downtown. Some of these photos following the 2018 flooding show the extreme silt levels in the Colorado River in contrast to the clear spring water from Barton Creek. Normally, boaters don't see a difference.
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2 imagesBastrop is the first major town downstream from Austin. The Colorado River is augmented by springs as it flows through surface cuts in the Chorizo Wilcox aquifer as it passed the area. This is a critical recharge zone for the river. Here are photos of the 2018 flooding in Bastrop.