Lago Vista Council Considers Aligning Water Restrictions with LCRA Guidelines

The Lago Vista City Council meeting on August 7, 2025, focused primarily on the city's water conservation policies in light of recent drought conditions. A significant discussion arose regarding the alignment of Lago Vista's water restriction stages with those set by the Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA).

During the meeting, it was announced that the LCRA had lifted Stage 5 emergency water conservation conditions, prompting a review of the city's own water restriction measures. Council members expressed a desire to modify the language in the city's regulations from "shall" to "may," allowing for greater flexibility in future water management decisions. This change received unanimous support from the council.

One council member proposed a more comprehensive approach, suggesting that Lago Vista should closely mirror the LCRA's drought stages and thresholds. They highlighted discrepancies between the city's current restrictions and those recommended by the LCRA, noting that Lago Vista's thresholds for initiating water restrictions were more stringent. For instance, the city triggers Stage 1 restrictions at a water volume of 1,400,000 acre-feet, while the LCRA sets this threshold at 1,100,000 acre-feet.

The discussion revealed a potential misalignment between the city’s water management plan and LCRA guidelines, raising concerns about the effectiveness of current policies. Some council members recalled previous efforts to align the city's plan with LCRA standards but were uncertain if those changes had been fully implemented.

The meeting concluded with a commitment to further investigate the discrepancies and consider revising the city's water contingency plan to ensure it aligns with LCRA recommendations. This step is seen as crucial for better managing water resources and preparing for future drought conditions. The council plans to continue discussions on this topic in upcoming meetings.