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The Lower Colorado River Authority does not plan to draw down any of the pass-through lakes in the Highland Lakes chain in 2021. This applies to lakes Inks, LBJ, Marble Falls and Austin.
Lakes Inks, LBJ and Marble Falls generally are considered for a drawdown once every four years, unless an additional lowering is necessary because of a flood or other significant event. Lakes Inks and LBJ were last lowered in 2020, and Lake Marble Falls was last lowered in 2019.
Lake Austin, which is owned by the City of Austin, was last lowered in 2017, at the request of the city.
“With dry weather upon us and the fact we’ve drawn down all the lakes within the last four years, we’ve decided not to lower any of the lakes in 2021,” said LCRA General Manager Phil Wilson. “We’ll consider another drawdown next year about this time, for a potential lowering M early 2022.”
LCRA occasionally draws down one or more of the four pass-through lakes in the January-February time frame to provide lakeside property owners an opportunity to do repairs and maintenance on docks, retaining walls and other areas, and to help combat nuisance aquatic vegetation.