There’s no question that water is tight in the Texas Hill Country. But questions remain about how the region will once again face historic lows amid another dry start to the year, as business owners, boaters and other recreational users cautiously look forward to spring break and the peak summer season, especially as new water-dependent developments continue to target the area.
In April 2025, Medina Lake, located in Bandera and Medina counties, reached “dead pool” status, meaning water levels dropped so low that flow downstream completely stopped, said Dave Mock, general manager of the Bandera County River Authority and Groundwater District. The lake level at that time was only 2.5% of the lake’s capacity.
As of Friday, February 6, water levels had risen slightly and were now at 4.4% below their 2025 high: shortly after the Downs experienced fatal flooding on July 4, 2025, water levels rose by 6.5%.
According to the Texas Water Resources Development Board, the lake’s surface elevation is 978.57 feet. The lake’s full capacity should hold 1,064.2 feet of water, a difference of about 86 feet.
The lake has been disappearing for years. Satellite images from more than a decade ago show drought conditions are slowly receding and are only getting worse.
The Bandera County River Authority and Groundwater District currently lists its drought status as “exceptional” and issued new water restrictions on Thursday, February 5, limiting irrigation and well use. The Bexar-Medina-Atascosa Water Control and Improvement District 1, which also manages the lake, is under Phase 4 water restrictions.
“It’s been dry here for so long,” Mock told MySA in October last year.
Mock, who could not immediately be reached for comment, previously told MySA that the lake’s low water levels are having a profound impact on various stakeholders, including businesses that rely on the lake’s tourist appeal, farmers who rely on the water for irrigation, and homeowners and newcomers who need this important resource as the mountain’s population continues to grow.
This article was originally published on Are dying Texas Hill Country lakes returning to “dead pool” status? what to know.