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
- 0.4 in10 mm watershed average
- Rain forecast, next 7 days
- 1.2 in32 mm normal 0.4 in10 mm
Statistical estimate, not safety, boating, or water-quality advice. For ramps, closures and advisories, check the lake operator.
Map
Map of Lake Buchanan with the dam, level gauge and 4 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 | 1018.3310.36 | 1018.5310.42 | 1019.2310.66 |
| Nov 9 | 1018.2310.35 | 1018.5310.45 | 1019.6310.77 |
| Nov 25 | 1018.0310.28 | 1018.6310.47 | 1020.1310.94 |
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
- 0.42 ft0.13 m Assuming the level stays the same was off by 0.58 ft0.18 m
- Actual level inside our range
- 79% of 432 tests; the range is built to catch 8 in 10
- When we said a rise was possible (20–40%)
- 21% of those 24 times it ended 1 ft0.3 m or more higher
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 LBJ14 mi23 km away · 824.8 ft251.39 m · 99%
- Lake Marble Falls17 mi27 km away · 736.7 ft224.53 m · 97%
- Lake Travis39 mi63 km away · 677.2 ft206.42 m · 94%
- Lake Georgetown41 mi67 km away · 784.3 ft239.05 m · 79%
- Lake Austin48 mi78 km away · 492.3 ft150.04 m · 96%
- Stillhouse Hollow Lake56 mi90 km away · 620.7 ft189.20 m · 97%
About Lake Buchanan
Lake Buchanan is the first and largest of the Highland Lakes on the Colorado River, west of Burnet. Buchanan Dam, more than 2 miles long, was built by the Lower Colorado River Authority in the 1930s for water supply and hydropower. Water released from Buchanan flows straight into Inks Lake, then on through LBJ, Marble Falls and Travis.
- Full pool (conservation)
- 1020.0 ft310.90 m
- Highest level since 1938
- 1021.3 ft311.28 m, Dec 1991
- Lowest level since 1938
- 983.7 ft299.83 m, Sep 1952
- Surface area at normal pool
- 23,060 acres9,332 ha
- Conservation storage
- 866,694 acre-feet1,069 million m³
- Dam
- Buchanan Dam, 1937
- River or creek
- Colorado River
- County
- Burnet
- Owner
- Lower Colorado River Authority
Elevations are feetmeters above sea level (NAVD88).
Common questions
Is Lake Buchanan full right now?
On Oct 26 it was 1018.3 ft, 1.7 ft below full pool (1020.0 ft), holding 96% of its conservation storage.On Oct 26 it was 310.39 m, 0.51 m below full pool (310.90 m), holding 96% of its conservation storage.
Is Lake Buchanan going up or down?
The middle estimate for Nov 9 is up about 0.2 ft, with an 8 in 10 chance it ends between 1018.2 ft and 1019.6 ft. The chance it ends 1 ft or more higher than today is 10%. Heavy rain can change that quickly.The middle estimate for Nov 9 is up about 0.06 m, with an 8 in 10 chance it ends between 310.35 m and 310.77 m. The chance it ends 0.3 m or more higher than today is 10%. 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.