Lake Austin drawdown canceled after concerns from business owners
2026 Lake Austin drawdown canceled
The City of Austin has canceled a drawdown of Lake Austin after business owners expressed concerns about the economic impact.
AUSTIN, Texas - The City of Austin has canceled a drawdown of Lake Austin after business owners expressed concerns about the economic impact.
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Lake Austin business owners concerned about economic impact of lake drawdown in the fall
Next month, Lake Austin will be lowered about a dozen feet for maintenance, but business owners on the lake say they're going to take a big economic hit with the timing of it.
Lake Austin 2026 drawdown canceled
The backstory:
The drawdown was originally planned for mid-October through the end of November, so property owners could do maintenance.
However, many business owners said fall is their busy season, and they would have lost a lot of money.
PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Some businesses upset with Lake Austin draw down
Next month, Lake Austin will be lowered about a dozen feet for maintenance, but business owners on the lake say they're going to take a big economic hit with the timing of it.
The city considered postponing the drawdown to December, but there were still concerns with impacts on holiday activities.
The Lower Colorado River Authority does not do drawdowns in January anymore to save energy in case there is a winter storm, because dams use a lot of power.
Given all the information, the city will not do a 2026 drawdown.
What they're saying:
"City staff will continue evaluating economic, operational, environmental and community considerations associated with potential future drawdowns, and we will remain engaged with LCRA and Lake Austin stakeholders as future opportunities are considered," Assistant City Manager Mike Rogers said. "There have been substantial efforts from the community to help problem solve and identify potential solutions, and we truly appreciate their continued collaboration."
The Source: Information from the City of Austin, previous coverage and reporting by FOX 7 Austin's Angela Shen