Why were rice farmers granted first rights to water from the lakes?
The downstream rice farmers had been using the waters of the Colorado River for more than 40 years before the Highland Lakes were created. Rice farmers were among the strongest supporters of building the Highland Lakes dams in the 1930s because they recognized the value of the dams in easing flooding and making water available during droughts. Without the support of the rice farmers, LCRA and the Highland Lakes and dams might never have been built.
