The Highland Lakes
The Colorado River has probably flooded since the beginning of its existence. Over the centuries, hundreds of lives were lost and damages ran in the millions of dollars. Flood control was badly needed, But until the 1930s, no one fully realized the potential and resources of the Colorado, So the only thing that kept the interest in building dams going was public outcry about repeated flooding.
In 1919, the Army Corps of Engineers formally recommended that a dam be built above Austin to control the river. Nowhere in the country had a project of such magnitude been considered. Funding was then made available for surveys of several floodplains throughout the nation after a massive flood of the Mississippi caused a national outcry.
The building of Hoover Dam in 1928 was also a great influence because of its massiveness and the use of new technology, proving that such a feat of engineering was possible. Construction of the Highland Lakes was drawn out and complicated by politics, funding and divided interests. Franklin Delano Roosevelt eventually authorized funds for flood control, and the newly formed. LCRA set to work building 6 dams, two reservoirs and four pass through lakes, to be known as Highland Lakes, a 150 mile chain of water. Buchanan Dam was finished in 1937, Roy Inks Dam in 1938. Tom Miller Dam in 1940,, JJ, Mansfield Dam on Lake Travis in 1941, Wirtz Dam and Lake LBJ in 1950 and Max Stark dam in 1951 made Lake Marble Falls. The largest of these lakes are Buchanan and Travis, which contain 380 billion and 300 billion gallons.
Water levels on Lake Travis and Lake Buchanan will fluctuate dramatically as water is alternately stored and released. Inks Lake, LBJ, Lake Marble Falls and Lake Austin were constructed primarily for hydroelectric power generation, so their water levels don’t vary as much. The construction of the dams has largely eliminated flooding and has provided a dependable water supply and endless recreational opportunities. The water is also used for municipal and industrial water supply and agricultural irrigation. Highland Lake has multiple coves, Creek mouths and inlets for exploring. You can swim at just about any place where you can publicly access the water, but please respect private property boundaries. The LCRA has seven parks on Lake Travis alone, totaling 20,000 acres. The smallest park on the Highland Lakes is 3.6 acres, the Dink Pearson Park on Lake Travis, Pace Bend is the largest park at 1520 acres. Some. Parks are just minutes from downtown Austin, while others take a little more time to find. Travis County operates some of the parks on the Highland Lakes, as well. You could spend your whole summer exploring the Highland Lakes alone.
Army Corps of Engineers Lakes
People often complain of the crowded conditions on Highland lakes. But there are many alternatives that won’t take you too far out of your way and are just as nice. There are several lakes in the area built by the Army Corps of Engineers, mostly during the 1940s through the 1960s., that will give you plenty of elbow room. Most of these lakes are reservoirs, cooling ponds for power plants, and mechanisms for flood control on local rivers. Whatever their practical application, ACE lakes provide fine recreation with very little crowding. Decker Lake in Austin is an overlooked gem right in our own backyard. Canyon Lake near New Braunfels has 80 miles of shoreline and a spectacular five mile trail encircling the rim of the Canyon. Lake Granger, Lake Belton, Lake Fayette, Lake Summerville, Lake Georgetown and Still House Hollow Lake are all just a short drive away. Whether you like to boat or swim, all ACE lakes have facilities for both, plus camping, picnic areas, hiking and nature preserves.
