Lake LBJ lake and shoreline

Lake LBJ

Texas

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Overview

Lake LBJ (Lake Lyndon B. Johnson) is one of the Highland Lakes on the Colorado River in the Texas Hill Country, impounded by Wirtz Dam near Marble Falls and Kingsland. It is operated by the Lower Colorado River Authority as a pass-through reservoir in the chain that also includes Buchanan, Inks, Marble Falls, Travis, and Austin. The lake is widely known as Lake LBJ; the formal name honors President Lyndon B. Johnson.

The lake covers roughly 6,500 acres with an elongated, hill-country shoreline of about 149 miles. Clearer water, limestone banks, and a mix of open main-lake reaches and sheltered coves define its physical character. Depth varies from shallower flats and cove margins to deeper water near the river channel and dam, supporting both recreational boating and structure-oriented fishing habitats.

Lake LBJ is a major Central Texas recreation lake for boating, water sports, and a warmwater sport fishery. Anglers commonly pursue largemouth bass, Guadalupe bass, catfish, and sunfish under Texas Parks and Wildlife Department regulations. Public and commercial access includes ramps, marinas, and shoreline communities along the Kingsland–Marble Falls corridor.

Unlike Lakes Travis and Buchanan, Lake LBJ is a pass-through lake with little flood-storage capacity. Under normal conditions LCRA typically operates it within about a one-foot band near 824.4–825.0 feet mean sea level; the surface can rise well above that band during floods and may be lowered periodically for maintenance. Levels are not managed with a classic seasonal winter-drawdown curve like many Corps reservoirs. Current elevation still matters for shoreline access, boat launching, and flood awareness even though day-to-day variation is often small outside flood events.

Current Conditions

  • Current statusBelow full pool
  • Drought conditionsNo Drought

About This Lake

Learn how this lake is managed, what affects its water level, and where Lake Insights gets its data.

Lake LBJ is a 6,534-acre reservoir on the Colorado River managed by Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA).

On the Lake

Find key access points and services around Lake LBJ.

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