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How LBJ and the LCRA Transformed the Hill Country

The dams that harnessed the Colorado River in its flow through the Hill Country brought power to the region, and the lakes they created transformed the landscape as well as the economy.

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The Colorado River is shown east of Longhorn Dam in Austin. The capital city is almost entirely reliant on the Colorado River and its system of dammed reservoirs for water,
Credit: Spencer Selvidge

The dams that harnessed the Colorado River in its flow through the Hill Country brought power to the region, and the lakes they created transformed the landscape as well as the economy. This retrospective looks at the lakes' creation as well as that of the Lower Colorado River Authority and the role of Lyndon B. Johnson in turning on the lights in much of Central Texas. (Austin American-Statesman)

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