Bastrop was laid out on June 8, 1832, around a central square, and its downtown still sits on a bluff along the east bank of the Colorado River about 30 miles southeast of Austin. In 1978, 131 of its buildings were added to the National Register of Historic Places, earning the town its nickname as the most historic small town in Texas. The city has since spread west across the river and out toward the Lost Pines, reaching 9,688 residents in 2020.
That mix of 19th-century buildings, river frontage and quickly growing subdivisions produces a wide range of water problems, from stormwater pooling in new neighborhoods to old plumbing failing inside historic homes. The Restoration Job is a no-cost referral line, not a restoration company. Call (888) 317-9980 around the clock and we'll connect you with an independent provider that works in Bastrop County.
How the call works: when you call (888) 317-9980, The Restoration Job connects you with an independent restoration provider that serves Bastrop. That provider inspects the damage, explains the scope and quotes the work. The Restoration Job doesn't perform restoration itself. Read our referral disclosure.
The Colorado River Below the Highland Lakes
The Colorado reaches Bastrop after passing through the Highland Lakes and Austin. Upstream, LCRA uses Lake Travis as the system's flood-control reservoir and operates floodgates on the Highland Lakes dams, so releases during and after major storms can keep the river running high here for days. The National Weather Service tracked the river at Bastrop and Smithville during the record October 1998 flood, and the river gauge here remains one to watch whenever heavy rain falls anywhere in the basin.
Low ground near the river and the creeks feeding it is the most exposed. Rainfall estimates cited for Bastrop County put the chance of 10 to 11 inches falling in a single day at 1 percent or more in a given year, usually from tropical systems or slow-moving storms. Bastrop also saw added flash flooding on Memorial Day 2015, and the October 30 to 31, 2015, storm dropped close to 9 inches at a National Weather Service reporting site near Wyldwood.
Drainage Growing Pains and the 2018 Building Pause
Rapid growth has tested local drainage. From August 2018 to May 2019, the city placed a moratorium on development because of flooding and drainage concerns, and in May 2019 it announced a new drainage ordinance. For homeowners, the lesson is that street and yard flooding during a hard storm can happen well away from the river, particularly where new rooftops and pavement send more water downhill.
Watch for water pooling against the foundation, entering through garage doors, or seeping under exterior walls. Grading, gutters and downspout extensions help, but once water is inside, it should be removed quickly. Providers offering water extraction can pull water out of carpet and pad before it spreads further across a slab.
Historic Buildings, Sandy Soils and Burn-Scar Runoff
Older homes and commercial buildings near downtown often have plaster walls, original wood floors and plumbing that has been patched over decades. Water damage repair in these buildings takes more care than in a new tract home: plaster and old-growth wood respond differently to drying, and stripping finishes or replacing trim may affect a property's historic character. Ask a provider how they plan to dry materials in place before anything is removed.
The Lost Pines grow on deep, sandy soils of the Carrizo Sands formation. In September 2011, the Bastrop County Complex fire destroyed 1,691 homes and became the most destructive wildfire in Texas history. Burned slopes generally shed rain faster than forested ones, so properties near past burn areas should keep an eye on runoff and debris in drainage paths during heavy storms.
Steps to Take in the First Day
- Stop the source: close the main valve for a plumbing break, or stay out until the river or creek has receded and the area is declared safe.
- Turn off power to affected rooms if water is near outlets, cords or appliances.
- Photograph and video water levels, damaged walls and belongings before moving anything.
- Contact your insurer; rising water is generally covered only by a separate flood policy, while sudden pipe breaks usually fall under homeowners coverage.
- Arrange flood cleanup or drying, and keep copies of moisture logs and invoices.
In February 2021, statewide power and water failures left millions without service, and boil-water notices in the Austin area lasted until February 27. If a freeze breaks pipes, remember that the water might be off at the street and damage may only appear once service is restored.
Lost Pines Humidity and Mold After a Leak
Bastrop's summers are long and humid, and floodwater or a hidden plumbing leak can lead to mold if drying stalls. Crawl spaces under older raised homes, wall cavities behind showers and the backs of kitchen cabinets are common places for it to start. Air movers and dehumidifiers, along with daily moisture checks, usually prevent most growth after a clean-water leak. Where growth is already visible across a large area, Texas rules govern assessment and remediation, and a qualified provider can explain the process.
Where Callers in the Bastrop Area Are
The same line also serves nearby communities such as:
- Elgin
- Smithville
- Mustang Ridge
- Austin
Questions From Bastrop Property Owners
How do I know whether the Colorado River is rising near Bastrop?
LCRA posts floodgate operations for the Highland Lakes and runs the Hydromet gauge network, which shows near-real-time river stages. The National Weather Service in New Braunfels issues flood warnings for the river and creeks. The City of Bastrop's emergency management page links to these sources and to FEMA flood maps, and residents can sign up for WarnCentralTexas alerts.
My older downtown house got wet. Do the plaster walls have to come out?
Not always. Plaster on wood or metal lath can sometimes be dried in place with controlled airflow and dehumidification, especially after a clean-water leak. Contaminated floodwater changes that, because porous materials it soaks are generally removed. Ask the provider to take moisture readings and explain which materials can be saved before any demolition starts, and check with the city if the property is in a historic district.
Will the city help with water coming off the street into my yard?
Street and drainage problems are handled by the city's Streets and Drainage department, and you can report issues there. Water that has already entered the house is the owner's to address. Document where it entered and how high it reached, since that detail matters for insurance and for any drainage complaint you file.