[austlar1]

The Colorado River flows through Austin. There are several dams and spillways creating lakes that pass through Austin. The lake located downtown was formerly known as Town Lake. It was re-named Lady Bird Lake after Lady Bird Johnson died several years ago. I still call it Town Lake, as do many others. Anyway, water is kept at a constant level in this lake and also in Lake Austin, which is just upstream. Both lakes can produce minor flooding, especially Lake Austin, but usually water is released downstream to prevent major flooding. It is a complicated process controlled by the Lower Colorado River Authority, but there has not been a major flood on these lakes in recent times. One creek (Shoal Creek), which feeds into Town Lake, can and does flash flood on a fairly regular basis, resulting in high water in some businesses on the west end of downtown along Lamar Blvd.