Recent rains restore lake levels

AUSTIN (KXAN) - Lake Travis is now back to normal thanks to this fall and winter's rains.

The last time Lake Travis was at a normal monthly average lake level was in June 2008.

At 4 p.m. on Monday, Lake Travis was at 671 feet - on target with the lake's monthly average.

Lake Buchanan was at 1003 feet which is only slightly below this lake's monthly average of 1012 feet.

"We're very excited and encouraged of the continuation of that wet pattern from El Nino," said Bob Rose, LCRA Meteorologist.

This summer, both lakes dropped to near record lows.

Lake Travis dropped to 629.74 feet in September, its third lowest recorded elevation. It was the result of a severe two-year drought that produced record-high temperatures and restricted rain and inflows into the Highland Lakes.

The lake's second lowest elevation of 615 feet msl was set in November 1963, and its record low of 614 msl was set in August 1951.

The level of Lake Buchanan on Sept. 4 was 990 feet msl - more than 20 feet below its average September elevation.

Inflows into the Highland Lakes during 2008 and through the summer of 2009 were the lowest since LCRA began keeping records in 1942.

"We're coming off one of the worst droughts our region has seen since the drought of the 1950s and by most accounts, it was probably the second worst drought ever in our area," said Rose.

The rising lake not only looks better, it is extremely important to every Central Texan.

"Lake Travis, Lake Buchanan, that is our water supply for much of our region here," said Rose.

Rose is anticipating even more improvement this spring.

"We're cautiously optimistic that the lake levels will continue to rise as we go through spring, because right now, we're not seeing any break from this wet weather pattern," said Rose.