TexasWaterFrontRanches

Located on the Highland Lakes Chain between Lake Buchanan and Lake LBJ, Inks Lake is a 4.2 mile lake formed by Inks Dam.  Inks Dam, constructed from 1936 to 1938, has no floodgates and the power plant is the smallest in the Highland Lakes chain. A small amount of water can be released through hydroelectric generation, but the bulk of floodwater passes over an uncontrolled spillway.  Buchanan Dam and Inks Dam work in tandem to release water downstream.
Inks Lake is the second smallest of the Highland Lakes, measuring 832 acres.   The lake maintains a constant level of 887 ft. above sea level and is 3,000 ft. across at its widest point.  Inks Lake State Park is 1201 acres along the lake and features camping, fishing, boating, backpacking and a 9 hole golf course.   The most famous feature of Inks Lake is “The Devil’s Waterhole,” a popular place for rock climbing and cliff jumping.    Texas Parks and Wildlife has a great video about the lake here.

Lake LBJ, originally known as Granite Shoals Lake, was renamed in 1965 for President Lyndon B. Johnson, in honor of his work on the project as a US Congressman and Senator. LBJ also owned a ranch on the lake, where he and his wife Lady Bird entertained foreign dignitaries during his vice presidency and presidency.

Created by the Wirtz Dam, Lake LBJ is fed by Lake Buchanan and Inks Lake upstream, as well as the unregulated Llano River. At its normal water level (almost constant), the lake is 6,200 acres at the surface and 21 miles long. The communities of Horseshoe Bay, Kingsland, Sunrise Beach and Granite Shoals are all communities on Lake LBJ. It is 45 miles from Austin, and is considered one of the most scenic and peaceful lakes in the Highland Lakes chain.

Highland Lakes Part Three: Lake Marble Falls

Highland Lakes Part Two: Lake Travis

Highland Lakes Part One: Lake Austin

Last week, the Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA) announced they’d be sending mail to some 5,000 residents living within 500 feet of the Highland Lakes. It includes an application for a Domestic Water Use Contract, and a reminder that residents are required to have a contract with the LCRA before taking and using water stored in the lakes.

Often met with resistance, the LCRA says their objective is not to make money, or to bar homeowners from using lake water to water their lawns or use inside the home. Rather, the LCRA uses these records to monitor water use and plan in times of drought and to keep open the lines of communication between residents and the LCRA. Says Mark Jordan of River Management: “It is a common misconception that lakeside residents have a right to take and use water from the lake. This is not true. Residents are required to have contracts with LCRA to take water that LCRA has stored in the Highland Lakes. These contracts help us manage and account for water use to meet existing and future water demands.”

Lake Buchanan

The LCRA is attempting to make this easier and understandable with public awareness campaigns and an option to apply online. More information and a copy of the application are available here. The lakes involved in this contract are Lake Buchanan, Lake Inks, Lake LBJ, Lake Marble Falls, Lake Travis and Lake Austin.  Town Lake/Lady Bird Lake is not included (it is monitored separately by the City of Austin, not the LCRA, and not technically one of the Highland Lakes). A contract lasts for three years, and is a firm contract (meaning water will be reserved even in severe drought). According to the LCRA, those who don’t sign a contract and take water may be subject to civil or criminal charges.

Pictured: Lake Buchanan from the Lake Buchanan Estate

On the chain of six lakes that officially make up the Highland Lakes, Lake Austin is the closest to downtown, sitting just northwest of the heart of the city. Created in 1939 by the LCRA (Lower Colorado River Authority) with the construction of the Tom Miller Dam, Lake Austin falls between the Mansfield Dam and the Tom Miller Dam. It provides flood control of the river, hydroelectric power, and recreation.

A great site for water sports, you can take one of the boat tours available, or bring your own. High cliffs provide shelter from the wind and make boating favorable, while also providing great sites for beautiful homes. It is also a spot for recreational fishing, stocked with largemouth bass, catfish and sunfish.

Mount Bonnell, the highest point in Austin, is a natural limestone feature, and has been a popular picnicking spot since the mid 1800s. From the brief hike to the top you can see over Lake Austin, the 360 Bridge (or Pennybacker Bridge), and to the downtown skyline.

Pictured: Private cove of Lake Austin from 1611 Westlake Drive