The city of Austin has decided not to lower water levels in Lake Austin next month. The reversal comes after local businesses raised concerns about the economic impacts of doing so during fall wedding season and other major events.
The drawdown, originally scheduled for Oct. 12 through Nov. 30, would have lowered water levels in the reservoir by about 10 feet. The move was requested by stakeholders to grant access to docks and shoreline structures for maintenance, including debris removal. It would have been the first drawdown in nearly 10 years.
In a Thursday memo to City Council, Austin Water and Austin Watershed Protection officials said the Lower Colorado River Authority identified Dec. 1 through Jan. 15 as an alternate time period for the drawdown, but businesses also raised concerns about impacts to “holiday activities and seasonal business operations.”
Stakeholders instead proposed a drawdown during January and February 2027, which was denied. While drawdowns have been conducted during winter months in the past, the LCRA said it would stop doing so after the 2021 winter storm in order to ensure hydroelectric generators along the Highland Lakes would be able to support the grid during demand spikes.
“Given these timing considerations, the City determined that proceeding with either of the available 2026 options would not provide the appropriate balance between the operational benefits of a drawdown and its potential impacts on the surrounding community,” the memo said. “As a result, the City will not move forward with a drawdown in 2026.”