Here are the five top-read stories across the Lake Travis-Westlake area in February. 

1. New LCRA reservoir could add 13B gallons to Central Texas water supply
The Lower Colorado River Authority is conducting studies to determine if a site northwest of Eagle Lake in Colorado County would be suitable for a new, larger water reservoir.

2. Hwy. 71, Loop 360: 4 transportation updates for Lake Travis, Westlake
Here are four transportation updates for the Lake Travis-Westlake area.

3. The League Kitchen & Tavern to close in Lakeway; Cousin Louie’s location announced
Following 15 years in the area, The League Kitchen & Tavern closed its Lakeway location Feb. 25. 

4. Lake Travis ISD's second high school to be named Highland Lakes High School
The Lake Travis ISD board of trustees voted Feb. 18 to name the district's upcoming second high school Highland Lakes High School.

5. Homes sales down 35% for Lake Travis, Westlake area in January
The latest data from Unlock MLS shows the housing market slowing down for areas in Lake Travis-Westlake.

A new city audit revealed issues with Austin's frequent use of third-party contractors, including unclear justifications and reporting on work that recently cost nearly $300 million in less than three years.

The details: Contracting with consultants is common in Austin, with most city departments reliant on some level of third-party support. The practice grew increasingly expensive in the less than three-year period covered by the March audit, with annual costs surpassing $100 million in total last year.

The audit found:

• City departments typically don't evaluate whether they could complete work internally rather than contract it out.
• Many third-party deliverables aren't measurable.
• City staff were sometimes unable to answer "basic questions" about contracts.
• Most contract results were never evaluated after work was completed.
• Poorly performing contractors were sometimes rehired for further work.

In the March 3 Democratic primary for the Travis County Commissioners Court, Precinct 2 incumbent Brigid Shea has been re-elected. George Morales III and Susanna Ledesma-Woody will head to a runoff election for Precinct 4 in May, unofficial voting results show.

A closer look: For Precinct 2, Shea won with 57.47% of the vote, or 27,643 votes, followed by Amanda Marzullo with 30.72% of the vote, or 14,776 votes. Rick Astray-Caneda III received 6.35% of the vote, or 3,056 votes, and Reese Ricci Armstrong received 5.46% of the vote, or 2,627 votes.

For Precinct 4, Morales lead with 36.90% of the vote, or 14,487 votes, followed closely by Ledesma-Woody with 35.70% of the vote, or 14,019 votes. Ofelia Maldonado Zapata received 21.02% of the vote with 8,255 votes and Gavino Fernandez Jr. received 6.37% of the vote with 2,503 votes.

Stay tuned: Morales and Ledesma-Woody will compete for the Precinct 4 seat in a runoff election May 26, according to county and state information.

No Republican candidates filed in the Republican primary for either seat.