Lake Buchanan, Reservoir in Texas Highland Lakes, United States.

Lake Buchanan is a reservoir on the Colorado River in Burnet and Llano Counties, west of Burnet, Texas. It was the first of the Texas Highland Lakes and, at 22,333 acres, the largest. Its 2-mile-long Buchanan Dam, completed in 1939, holds the water; a low bridge crosses the far shoreline, and picnic tables and a grill sit on the grassy bank.

Work on Buchanan Dam began in 1931, halted, then restarted in 1935 before finishing in 1939. The completed structure created the reservoir to supply water to the growing settlements across the region.

The name honors Texas Congressman James P. Buchanan, who supported the dam project that created this body of water. Today, anglers line the shores while boaters explore its wide expanse, using it for recreation and water sports.

Most land around the lake is privately owned, so access is through the three parks maintained by the Lower Colorado River Authority: Cedar Point Recreation Area, Black Rock Park and Canyon of the Eagles. County parks and private marinas also offer boating access. The reservoir is level-controlled and kept from flooding in heavy rain, but its level can fall sharply in drought, so check conditions before launching.

The severe drought of 2011 lowered water levels enough to reveal remnants of the original town of Bluffton. The settlement had been flooded before the dam was built and lay hidden beneath the surface for decades.