Outlook
Middle estimate, with the range the level has an 8 in 10 chance of landing in. The bars share one scale: change from today.
Rises are harder to call. Heavy rain in the watershed can push the lake above these ranges within days.
- Rain, past 7 days
- 0.3 in8 mm watershed average
- Rain forecast, next 7 days
- 1.1 in29 mm normal 0.4 in11 mm
Statistical estimate, not safety, boating, or water-quality advice. For ramps, closures and advisories, check the lake operator.
Map
Map of Lake Austin with the dam, level gauge and 8 public boat ramps.
- Dam
- Level gauge
- Public boat ramp
Ramp locations from Texas Parks and Wildlife. Whether a ramp is open depends on the lake level; check the operator.
Level and outlook
FeetMeters above sea level
- Measured
- Middle estimate
- 8 in 10 range
- Full pool
Show outlook as a table
| Date | Low end | Middle | High end |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 2 | 492.0149.97 | 492.2150.03 | 492.4150.09 |
| Nov 9 | 492.0149.97 | 492.2150.02 | 492.4150.09 |
| Nov 25 | 492.0149.97 | 492.1150.00 | 492.4150.09 |
How well this outlook has done here
We tested the 2-week outlook on past years at this lake, as if made once a week with only what was known that day.
- On average it was off by
- 0.16 ft0.05 m Assuming the level stays the same was off by 0.17 ft0.05 m
- Actual level inside our range
- 93% of 432 tests; the range is built to catch 8 in 10
The rise chance uses the same threshold for every lake: 1 ft (0.3048 m).
Connected lakes
Water from upstream lakes flows into this one; water released here flows on downstream.
Nearby lakes
Closest lakes in a straight line, with today's level.
- Lake Georgetown25 mi40 km away · 784.3 ft239.05 m · 79%
- Lake Marble Falls33 mi52 km away · 736.7 ft224.53 m · 97%
- Lake LBJ37 mi59 km away · 824.8 ft251.39 m · 99%
- Granger Lake38 mi61 km away · 503.8 ft153.55 m · 98%
- Canyon Lake40 mi64 km away · 907.4 ft276.57 m · 97%
- Inks Lake46 mi74 km away · 887.3 ft270.44 m · 96%
About Lake Austin
Lake Austin is a narrow reservoir on the Colorado River inside the city of Austin, formed in 1939 by Tom Miller Dam. It sits directly below Mansfield Dam and Lake Travis and is one of the Highland Lakes, so its level mostly reflects how water is released from Travis upstream. It is used for water supply, hydropower and recreation.
- Full pool (conservation)
- 492.8 ft150.21 m
- Highest level since 1966
- 494.9 ft150.85 m, May 1981
- Lowest level since 1966
- 476.0 ft145.09 m, Jan 1986
- Surface area at normal pool
- 1,830 acres741 ha
- Conservation storage
- 23,972 acre-feet30 million m³
- Dam
- Tom Miller Dam, 1939
- River or creek
- Colorado River
- County
- Travis
- Owner
- City of Austin
Elevations are feetmeters above sea level (NGVD29).
Common questions
Is Lake Austin full right now?
On Oct 26 it was 492.3 ft, 0.6 ft below full pool (492.8 ft), holding 96% of its conservation storage.On Oct 26 it was 150.04 m, 0.17 m below full pool (150.21 m), holding 96% of its conservation storage.
Is Lake Austin going up or down?
The middle estimate for Nov 9 is about steady, with an 8 in 10 chance it ends between 492.0 ft and 492.4 ft. The chance it ends 1 ft or more higher than today is under 5%. Heavy rain can change that quickly.The middle estimate for Nov 9 is about steady, with an 8 in 10 chance it ends between 149.97 m and 150.09 m. The chance it ends 0.3 m or more higher than today is under 5%. Heavy rain can change that quickly.
Where does this data come from?
Daily levels come from the Texas Water Development Board and lake operators. The outlook is our own statistical model, using recent levels and forecast rain over the watershed.