LCRA still advises caution on lakes; no decision on drawdowns
Lake LBJ, along with the other Highland Lakes, have mostly returned to normal following the Fourth of July weekend flood. Bacteria levels are now at their typical measurements for this time of year, but submerged debris could still be a problem. Staff photo by Jennifer Greenwell
The Highland Lakes have mostly returned to normal following the Fourth of July weekend flood, but debris hidden below the water’s surface could still be an issue.
According to the Lower Colorado River Authority, high bacteria levels caused by the flood have subsided, returning to levels typically seen this time of year.
“It’s important to remember these lakes are not chlorinated swimming pools, so there is always a risk of encountering bacteria or other microorganisms regardless of whether there’s been a recent flood,” said LCRA Vice President of Water John Hofmann in an Aug. 7 media release.
The river authority advises caution when swimming in areas with cloudy, smelly, or stagnant water, which could indicate the presence of increased bacteria activity.
Debris left behind by the flood remains an issue for boaters. Large tree limbs and trash can get caught on underwater structures, including docks.
“The debris is getting better day by day, but you still need to keep an eye out and slow down,” Hofmann said. “It’s absolutely not smart or safe to go full speed on the lakes under these conditions. We expect conditions will continue to improve, but our advice is to remain cautious of debris for the foreseeable future.”
Boaters are also advised to avoid traveling at night if possible.
In rare cases, the LCRA has lowered the Highland Lakes for repairs and debris cleanup following a flood. The authority lowered Lake LBJ in 2019 and 2020 after the October 2018 flood, which caused mass devastation, including the destruction of the RM 2900 bridge in Kingsland.
The LCRA has not yet decided if any of the Highland Lakes will be lowered to accommodate cleanups and lakeside property restoration due to the recent flood.
“LCRA has not made a determination about whether it will lower Lake LBJ or any of the other pass-through lakes in the Highland Lakes later this year,” reads a statement from the LCRA in an emailed response to questions from DailyTrib.com. “That decision will likely be made in the September/October timeframe, and if a drawdown is scheduled, the lowering would likely happen late this year.”
Keep up with updates on LCRA lake drawdowns on the authority’s lake lowering webpage.