How to read the water
Background on Austin's creeks, lakes, and aquifer.
What stage and flow mean
Stage is how high the water is. Flow is how much is moving past. Here’s when to use each.
Why the Greenbelt dries up (and comes back)
Barton Creek loses water as it flows through the Edwards Aquifer recharge zone.
How Lake Travis floods work
Travis is the only Highland Lake built to hold back floods, and "100% full" doesn’t mean it’s at the top.
The 48-hour bacteria rule
The same rain that fills the swimming holes flushes E. coli into them. Wait 48 to 72 hours after a big rain.
How to save water in Austin
Austin limits sprinklers even outside drought, and lawns are where most of the savings are.