Lake Austin

Lake Austin
Location	Austin, Texas
Coordinates	30°17.66′N 97°47.18′W
Lake type	Hydroelectric reservoir
Primary inflows	Colorado River
Primary outflows	Colorado River
Basin countries	United States
Surface area	1,599 acres (647 ha)
Max. depth	75 ft (23 m)
Surface elevation	492 ft (150 m) above sea level

Lake Austin, formerly Lake McDonald, is a water reservoir on the Colorado River in Austin, Texas in the United States. The reservoir was formed in 1939 by the construction of Tom Miller Dam by the Lower Colorado River Authority. Lake Austin is one of the seven Highland Lakes created by the Lower Colorado River Authority, and is used for flood control, electrical power generation, and recreation. Loop 360 spans the lake at the Pennybacker Bridge.

The other reservoirs on the Colorado River are Lake Buchanan, Inks Lake, Lake LBJ, Lake Marble Falls, Lake Travis, and Lady Bird Lake.

The Lake Austin under the Pennybacker Bridge

Recreational uses

Lake Austin is a popular fishing and boating destination. The lake is considered to have an excellent stock of largemouth bass. However, most people feel that the lake is best utilized for pleasure boating during the day.

Fish and wildlife populations

Lake Austin has been stocked with several species of fish intended to improve the utility of the reservoir for recreational fishing. Fish present in Lake Austin include largemouth bass, catfish, and sunfish. Lake Austin is one of the Texas Highland Lakes infested with hydrilla, a non-native aquatic plant species. The Lower Colorado River Authority has intentionally lowered the water levels in the lake in the months of January and February so that freezing air temperatures might destroy substantial portions of the hydrilla in the lake each winter. As of March 2014, hydrilla has been completely eliminated from the lake through the stocking of Asian Grass Carp by the City of Austin.

External links

• Lake Austin - Texas Parks & Wildlife
• U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Lake Austin