Balancing demands on Texas’ Colorado River

As published in Lake Travis View, June 2025

In the heart of Central Texas, the Highland Lakes stand as both a testament to human ingenuity and a barometer of environmental resilience. Stretching nearly 145 miles along Texas’ Colorado River, the series of six lakes — Lake Buchanan, Inks Lake, Lake LBJ, Lake Marble Falls, Lake Travis and Lake Austin — separated by six dams—Buchanan, Inks, Wirtz, Starcke, Mansfield and Tom Miller — were conceived in the 1930s and 1940s to address the region’s chronic flooding and drought issues. Today, they are managed by the Lower Colorado River Authority and serve as vital sources of drinking water, hydroelectric power and recreation for over a million Texans.

The Highland Lakes are just a small section of Texas’ Colorado River that winds over 800 miles from West Texas to the Gulf Coast. Furthermore, there are more than 7,500 miles of tributaries in Texas’ Colorado River Basin, spanning nearly 39,900 square miles, that feed the river. Balancing the river’s human and agricultural water demands with environmental needs is as important to the cotton farmers in West Texas as they are to the stability of the estuary of Matagorda Bay, where the river’s freshwater meets the coast’s salt water. As such, every decision made upriver has consequences downriver, and vice versa.

Management challenges

The LCRA was established in 1934 amidst the economic challenges of the Great Depression and the environmental hardships of the Dust Bowl era. Recognizing the need for water management in a region plagued by erratic weather patterns, the LCRA embarked on an ambitious project to construct a series of dams along the lower Colorado River. These efforts culminated in the creation of the Highland Lakes, with Lake Buchanan, the chain’s largest reservoir by area, at the beginning of the chain, completed in 1939 and Lake Travis in 1942, servicing as the chain’s second water supply reservoir and the only lake that can hold floodwaters to help protect cities downstream, such as Austin.  

As the steward of this system, the LCRA manages water releases based on a state-approved Water Management Plan that outlines protocols for drought response, flood control and routine operations. During droughts, the plan’s triggers determine when to cut off or reduce water supplies to interruptible customers in the agricultural divisions of Garwood, the Gulf Coast and Lakeside. Firm customers, such as municipalities and water districts, can purchase water no matter the drought conditions, but with “pro rata curtailment” goals that must be met to reduce total water use.

While the LCRA plays the central role in managing the Highland Lakes along the lower Colorado River, several state agencies and stakeholder groups also contribute to water planning, policy enforcement, ecological protection and long-term resource sustainability in the basin. These include:

• The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality is the primary state agency responsible for granting and managing water rights in Texas under the Texas Water Code. It regulates how surface water — including from Texas’ Colorado River — is diverted, stored and used by individuals and entities. During drought or water shortages, the commission also determines the priority of use among water rights holders, sometimes ordering curtailments. In addition, the agency enforces water quality standards and drought contingency plans to protect public health and environmental sustainability.
• The Texas Water Development Board leads the state’s long-term water planning through its development of the State Water Plan, updated every five years in coordination with regional water planning groups. The board provides technical expertise and financial assistance for water infrastructure projects including dams, pipelines and conservation initiatives. The agency also collects and publishes important hydrological data, climate models and groundwater studies to guide policy and investment decisions for a sustainable future water supply.
• The  Region K Water Planning Group is one of 16 regional groups established by the TWDB to develop long-range water supply strategies. Region K covers the Lower Colorado River Basin, including the Highland Lakes and Matagorda Bay. Its members include representatives from municipalities, agriculture, industry, public interest groups, and environmental organizations. The group identifies current and future water needs and recommends strategies to ensure reliable water supplies through 50-year planning horizons. These recommendations feed into the statewide water plan developed by TWDB.
• The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department plays a crucial role in protecting the ecological health of Texas’ Colorado River and its connected ecosystems. It monitors fish and wildlife populations, advises on habitat needs and recommends environmental flow standards to maintain the health of rivers, lakes and coastal estuaries like Matagorda Bay. the department also contributes to water planning efforts by ensuring that decisions account for the needs of aquatic species, wetlands, and recreational water users.
• The Highland Lakes Firm Water Customer Cooperative is made up of cities and utilities that hold long-term “firm water” contracts with the LCRA, guaranteeing water delivery for essential use purposes to their customers through a repeat of the worst drought on record for the region. The group collaborates with the LCRA on matters affecting water supply reliability and drought response planning. Their coordinated feedback helps shape key management decisions regarding allocation and conservation policies. They represent a powerful voice for the region’s largest water users.

The path forward

As Texas’ population continues to grow — it is projected to reach over 51 million by 2070 — many groups are working collaboratively to ensure a reliable, sustainable water supply. These coordinated efforts aim to address municipal, agricultural, industrial and environmental needs, while preparing for the impacts of climate variability and prolonged droughts. The success of these efforts relies heavily on stakeholder buy in. Consumers also need to make strategic decisions that minimize essential use — such as all indoor use — and curb discretionary use, such as outdoor irrigation. Only through shared responsibility and active participation at every level can Texas secure the future of its most vital water resources.

^{Written by Stephanie Threinen, public information liaison for the Lakeway Municipal Utility District. Earl Foster is the general manager of LMUD.}