Home / Environment / Lake Austin Drained for Repairs: A Decade in the Making
Lake Austin Drained for Repairs: A Decade in the Making
28 Aug
Summary
- Lake Austin will be partially lowered by 10 feet for infrastructure repairs.
- This drawdown is the first in nearly a decade, last occurring in 2017.
- A public open house is scheduled for September 9th for permit information.
Austin City Council members received a briefing on a plan to partially lower Lake Austin this fall, a process not undertaken in almost ten years. The drawdown, scheduled to begin October 12th and last until November 30th, will reduce lake levels by about 10 feet to facilitate repairs to docks and other property owner infrastructure. The Lower Colorado River Authority approved the plan on August 20th, with refilling starting November 24th.
City staff are developing a special application process for minor dock and bulkhead repairs, with some projects potentially requiring permits from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. An open house is planned for September 9th at the Permitting and Development Center to inform residents about permit requirements. Public boat ramps will be closed, and swimming prohibited at Emma Long Metropolitan Park during the drawdown period.
The lake has not been lowered since 2017, partly due to drought and a lack of community requests until invasive vegetation became a significant concern. While property owners hope the drawdown will curb invasive plants like hydrilla, city staff anticipate only a temporary reduction, with grass carp also being introduced to manage vegetation.
