AUSTIN, Texas — The Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA) said most of its agricultural customers won't be able get water from the Highland Lake system this year.
Those customers have not been able to tap into the water supply from the Highland Lakes system since 2022 due to drought conditions across the state. This includes agricultural customers in Colorado, Wharton and Matagorda counties.
LCRA made its decision to cut off supply because Lakes Buchanan and Travis are in "extraordinary drought" conditions. The two lakes are around 42% full, or 845,086 acre-feet.
LCRA leaders say we've gotten some significant rain, but not enough to benefit the lakes.
“This is a reflection of the serious drought we’re in,” John Hofmann, LCRA executive vice president of water, said. “Texas has gotten some significant rain over the last few months, but it hasn’t been in the right areas to benefit Lake Buchanan or Lake Travis. The Water Management Plan requires us to take this step to help ensure we can continue to meet the water needs of cities and industries throughout the region.”
LCRA provides water to “firm” and “interruptible” water customers. Firm customers are primarily municipalities, water districts and industries that purchase water available even during drought conditions. Interruptible customers are agricultural customers in the lower basin that purchase water at a lower rate that is cut back or cut off during droughts.
The next time water from the lakes could be available for interruptible customers is spring 2025, the LCRA said.