Overview

Arguably, no other institution has transformed the heart of Texas like the Lower Colorado River Authority. Born in the Great Depression of the 1930s, LCRA built a chain of dams and brought predictability to the cycles of extreme droughts and floods that had long plagued Austin and other communities. It also brought hydroelectric power—and with that, modern-day civilization—to the hard-scrabble regions of Central and South Texas. With those achievements, and the support of powerful political leaders like Lyndon Johnson, LCRA for years was touted as one of the state’s major success stories. But LCRA has never been a stranger to controversy, and while it continues to provide much of the energy and water that fuels the economic engine of Austin and beyond, most people know very little about LCRA. In this book, readers will learn about the forces of nature and politics that combined to create LCRA; the colorful personalities who operated, supported, or fought with the agency; its spectacular successes, periodic blunders, and occasional failures; and its evolution into one of the largest public power organizations in Texas.

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9781623493417

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Reviews

Among the many positive aspects of Williams' draft is his strong narrative flow. He tells a good story with occasional humor. He also provides the reader with a sense of the many new programs and issues related to LCRA since the late 1980's. On the whole, John Williams has produced a very readable story that provides his audience with a reliable, updated history of the LCRA. --Thomas G. Mason, Former LCRA General Manager-- Thomas G. Mason (7/6/2015 12:00:00 AM) John Williams' story of the LCRA fills a long needed hole in the reservoir of knowledge about the human interface with surface water, politics, hydroelectric power, flood control, and recreation in Texas. His book opens a long needed and highly interesting window into the history of one of our most significant and far reaching government agencies. I highly recommend it to everyone. --Charles Porter-- Charles Porter (6/30/2015 12:00:00 AM) offers a revealing look into the management of water and the production of energy in the twentieth century. --Journal of Southern History-- Journal of Southern History

Among the many positive aspects of Williams draft is his strong narrative flow. He tells a good story with occasional humor. He also provides the reader with a sense of the many new programs and issues related to LCRA since the late 1980s. On the whole, John Williams has produced a very readable story that provides his audience with a reliable, updated history of the LCRA. Tom Mason, former LCRA General Manager--Tom Mason (08/18/2015)

Author Information

John Williams, of Austin, is a writer, editor, and historian whose career with LCRA spanned nearly four decades.

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