Drought and Water Supply in Travis County

Lakes Travis and Buchanan together hold the region's main water supply. During drought years, these lakes can drop to very low levels. The combined storage can swing sharply when heavy rains hit; LCRA reported that early July 2025 flooding raised combined storage from 51% to more than 90% of capacity over several days.

The City of Austin and LCRA both have drought contingency plans that kick in at different lake levels. If you live outside city water service and rely on a private well, drought can reduce your well's output or dry it out. Know your water source before you buy. Check current lake levels at hydromet.lcra.org.