After years of drought left Medina Lake at historically low levels, the Hill Country reservoir is showing signs of a remarkable recovery.
About 40 miles northwest of San Antonio, Medina Lake has long been a favorite destination for boaters, anglers and other outdoor enthusiasts. Years of drought, however, left the reservoir at historically low levels, exposing large stretches of lakebed and limiting recreation.
According to Water Data for Texas, Medina Lake was 29.3% full as of Thursday, July 30, with a mean water level of 1,021.35 feet and 74,779 acre-feet of water in storage.
The rebound follows historic July rainfall across Central Texas, which sent water rushing into rivers and reservoirs throughout the region. Just one month earlier, on June 30, Medina Lake was only 9% full, holding 23,003 acre-feet of water at an elevation of 991.11 feet.
Timelapse image taken from the Medina Lake near San Antonio on October 6, 2025 by the U.S. Geological Survey. (Courtesy of United States Geological Survey)
Since then, the reservoir has gained more than 51,700 acre-feet of water while its elevation has climbed more than 30 feet, one of the lake’s most significant increases in recent years.
The improvement extends beyond the past month. Three months ago, Medina Lake was just 3.9% full, and one year ago it measured 6.5% full, highlighting how dramatically conditions have changed following this summer’s rainfall.
Despite the rapid rise, Medina Lake remains well below its conservation capacity of 254,823 acre-feet, meaning the reservoir is still less than one-third full after enduring years of prolonged drought.
The recent increase mirrors improvements seen across parts of the Texas Hill Country following widespread flooding in early July. While some reservoirs, including Canyon Lake, have returned to conservation pool levels, Medina Lake continues its slower recovery from years of declining water levels.
This article originally published at One of Texas’ hardest-hit lakes is making a comeback. See how full it is.