Caution still advised on Highland Lakes
The Llano County boat ramp had not been usable for some time due to low lake levels, but it now reaches into Lake Buchanan. Staff photo by Dakota Morrissiey
While flood debris on the Highland Lakes might be decreasing, the Lower Colorado River Authority is still urging boaters and swimmers to take extra care, particularly at night when hazards are harder to see.
The LCRA warns swimmers on the other Highland Lakes to be selective when choosing spots to jump in due to potentially higher-than-normal bacteria levels. Though levels tend to decrease in the weeks following a flood, they could still be elevated in coves, which generally have less circulation and accumulate debris more than the main body of a lake.
“There is always a chance of encountering bacteria in lakes, including the Highland Lakes, and that chance significantly increases in the weeks after a flood,” said LCRA Executive Vice President of Water John Hofmann in a Thursday, July 24, media release. “If the water is cloudy or murky, swim somewhere else. If there is debris in the area, go somewhere else. And if the water is stagnant, keep going. Find a place with clear water before you think seriously about going swimming.”
Risks related to the Fourth of July weekend flood continue, even weeks after the rain ended.
“The flood debris is settling, but we still are seeing debris both on the surface and below the surface in every lake,” Hofmann said. “In addition to taking extra care when boating and swimming, we encourage people to limit their boating to daytime and to keep safety top of mind.”
LCRA also recommends visitors to the Highland Lakes, which are Lake Buchanan, Inks Lake, Lake LBJ, Lake Marble Falls, Lake Travis, and Lake Austin:
- Avoid cloudy, smelly, or murky water as well as any area with flood debris or stirred-up sediment, as bacteria tend to congregate in there.
- Never swim alone and always wear a life jacket when on the water.
- Be aware the lakes are deep and have uneven bottoms. Under current conditions, parts of Lake Buchanan and Lake Travis are more than 100 feet deep.
- Understand that lake flows can be sudden and strong.
Since July 4, Lake Buchanan has risen more than 17 feet and Lake Travis is up more than 38 feet. The combined storage of the two water supply reservoirs has risen from 51 percent to more than 95 percent of capacity.