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Canyon Lake Just Hit Its Highest Level in Years—Boat Ramps Shut Down!
Canyon Lake Fills Up Fast After Floods—But It’s Not Safe to Splash Yet!
What Happened to Canyon Lake?
Imagine a big bathtub in the Texas Hill Country called Canyon Lake. Recently, heavy rain and flash flooding acted like someone turned on the faucet full blast!
- On Tuesday, July 14, the lake was only 60.9% full.
- By Thursday, July 16, it jumped to 67.4% full (mean water level 891.99).
- On Friday morning, July 17, it climbed to 76.3% full (mean water level 897.09).
- By Friday afternoon, July 17, it reached 81.3% full.
This quick growth beat the lake’s levels from the July 4, 2025 floods and is the highest it’s been since 2023! One year ago on July 16, 2025, it was only 65.9% full.
Important Point: The lake filled up by more than 20% in just a few days—but that does NOT mean it’s safe to go boating or swimming yet!
Why Can’t We Go to the Lake Right Now?
Even though the sun is out and it feels like summer, officials say: please wait a little longer.
- The recent flooding pushed a lot of dangerous debris (like broken branches, trash, and junk) into the lake.
- You can’t always see this debris from the surface—it hides underwater like toys at the bottom of a murky pool.
- Crews from Comal County, the Water Oriented Recreation District, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers need time to check if it’s safe.
Comal County says: “The sun is finally shining, lake levels are rising and it feels like summer again but we’re asking you to hold off a little while longer… Our crews and our partners on the lake need time to evaluate conditions before it’s safe to reopen.”
A Yucky Problem: Dirty Water and Boiling Rules
The flood also washed in lots of dirt and gunk (called sediment) and made the water cloudy. This cloudiness is called turbidity.
- Turbidity can make people sick with nausea (upset tummy), cramps, diarrhea, and headaches.
- Because of this, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) told many nearby communities they must boil their water before drinking, cooking, or making ice.
- Boiling kills the tiny germs (bacteria and microbes) that could make you ill.
Communities Told to Boil Water
As of 8:19 a.m. Thursday, these places were under a boil water notice:
- Bulverde Hills
- City of Bulverde
- City of Blanco water customers
- Copper Canyon
- Cypress Springs on the Guadalupe
- Edgebrooke
- Hidden Trails
- Hwy 281 North
- Lantana Ridge
- Oakland Estates
- River Crossing
- Riverwood Estates
- Saddleridge
- Singing Hills
- Spring Branch Meadows
- The Crossing @ Spring Creek
- The Woods @ Spring Branch
- Canyon Lake Acres
- Canyon Lake Island
- Canyon Lake Shores
- Canyon Ranch
- Cascada at Canyon Lake
- Canyon Lake Villas
- Canyon Lake Vistas
- Comal Hills
- Cougar Ridge
- Deer River
- Devils Backbone Heights
- Enclave Subdivision
- Glenmare
- Goldsmith
- Hancock Canyon
- Hancock Oaks Hills
- Hancock
- Hillcrest Estates
- Lake of the Hills
- Lakewood Hills
- Mystic Bluff
- Mystic Shores
- North Lake Estates
- Rancho Del Lago West
- Rocky Creek Ranch
- RCM – Cypress Lake at Gardens
- RCM – Rebecca Creek Estates
- RCM – Rebecca Creek Park
- RCM – Springs at Rebecca Creek
- Scenic Terrace
- Serenity Oaks
- Stallion Estates
- Stallion Springs
- Summit North
- Tamarack Shores
- Tanglewood Shores
- The Cedars
- The Point
- The Summit at Fischer
How to Stay Safe with a Boil Water Notice
If you live in one of those areas, here’s what to do:
- Bring water to a rolling boil for at least 1 minute.
- Let it cool before using it to drink, cook, or make ice.
- Use boiled or bottled water until officials say the notice is lifted.
Important Point: Boiling water kills germs but does NOT remove hidden debris from the lake—so lake recreation is still off-limits!
Summary
Canyon Lake rose super fast from 60.9% to 81.3% full in just days because of heavy rain and flooding. That’s the highest since 2023! But the flood dropped dangerous, hidden debris in the water and made it dirty (turbid). Many communities must boil water before using it, and everyone should stay off the lake until crews say it’s safe.
FAQ
Q1: Why did Canyon Lake get so full so quickly?
Because the Texas Hill Country had heavy rains and flash floods that acted like a giant hose filling the lake in just a few days.
Q2: What is turbidity and why is it bad?
Turbidity means the water is cloudy with dirt and gunk. It can carry germs that cause tummy aches, cramps, diarrhea, and headaches.
Q3: Can I go boating or swimming at Canyon Lake now?
No. Officials say to wait because underwater debris is dangerous and crews are still checking safety.
Q4: What does “boil water notice” mean?
It means you must boil your tap water before drinking, cooking, or making ice to kill germs.
Q5: Who is checking if the lake is safe?
Comal County, the Water Oriented Recreation District, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers are working together to evaluate the lake.
