LCRA Considers Building New Lake Southeast of Austin

The proposed reservoir in Colorado County could store up to 80,000 acre-feet of water.

Published on Feb. 22, 2026

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The Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA) announced plans to study the feasibility of building a new reservoir in Colorado County, about 110 miles southeast of Austin. The potential lake could store between 48,000 and 80,000 acre-feet of water and help meet the region's future water supply needs.

Why it matters

The new reservoir would provide additional water storage capacity for the LCRA's system, which manages the lower 600 miles of the Colorado River and supplies water to dozens of municipalities. This could help address growing competition for water resources in the lower Colorado River basin as the region's population and business needs continue to increase.

The details

LCRA General Manager Phil Wilson said the authority is 'quickly moving forward' with a study to determine if a large new reservoir can be built on 2,000 acres of land it already owns in Colorado County, just northwest of Eagle Lake. Details about the potential project's timeline and cost are not yet known as the LCRA first needs to assess the site's technical, environmental and permitting constraints.

  • On February 18, 2026, LCRA officials announced plans to study the feasibility of building a new reservoir in Colorado County.
  • In October 2025, LCRA's newest reservoir, Arbuckle Reservoir in Wharton County, became operational.

The players

Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA)

A Texas state agency that manages the lower 600 miles of the Colorado River and provides water to dozens of municipalities through a system of reservoirs, including the Highland Lakes.

Phil Wilson

The General Manager of the LCRA.

Ty Prause

The Colorado County Judge.

Phillip Spenrath

The Wharton County Judge and co-chairman of the Lower Colorado River Basin Coalition.

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What they’re saying

“More storage to ultimately make more water available for the various needs we all have is a good thing.”

— Ty Prause, Colorado County Judge (statesman.com)

“It would increase water storage downstream for the growing needs of businesses and communities downstream of Austin. Competition for water is increasing throughout the basin, and while we appreciate LCRA's strong science-based, stakeholder approach to its Water Management Plan, additional water in the lower basin — where rainfall is more plentiful — is the best answer.”

— Phillip Spenrath, Wharton County Judge and co-chairman of the Lower Colorado River Basin Coalition (statesman.com)

What’s next

The LCRA will conduct a feasibility study to determine if the proposed site in Colorado County can support a large new reservoir, including assessing technical, environmental and permitting constraints. Once the study is complete, the LCRA will estimate the cost, explore funding options, and develop a timeline for the potential project.

The takeaway

The LCRA's consideration of a new reservoir southeast of Austin highlights the growing demand for water resources in the region and the agency's proactive approach to addressing future supply needs through strategic infrastructure investments.