Lake Travis Partially Reopens After Flooding, Officials Urge Caution

Travis County Judge Andy Brown has partially reopened Lake Travis for recreational use after catastrophic flooding and debris accumulation over the July 4 weekend led him to declare the lake off-limits.

The county announced Sunday that only areas upstream of mile marker 36 and Sandy Creek Park are closed due to hazards from floodwaters. The partial reopening amends Brown’s executive order from Friday, which prohibited all recreational, commercial and navigational use of Lake Travis waterways.

Still, officials are recommending that boaters take extra care to avoid debris. The Lower Colorado River Authority recommended on Thursday that boaters avoid using the lakes at night, move slowly and swim “only in clear areas of the lake” to reduce the risk of coming into contact with bacteria.

“Conditions for boating are better than they were a few days ago, but still require extra caution,” said John Hofmann, executive vice president of water for the Lower Colorado River Authority, in a Thursday news release. “Our crews have located and replaced most of the missing marker buoys damaged or displaced by the floods, but boaters still need to be extremely careful to avoid flood debris.”

The Travis County ban does not apply to individuals designated as emergency response by a state or local official or agency, or a representative of a state or local agency that accesses Lake Travis.

Violating the ban is a misdemeanor and could be punished with a fine of up to $1,000 or up to six months in jail, according to the order. In a Sunday news release, Brown said recovery and cleanup efforts are still ongoing.

“Every day, Travis County staff, partner organizations, and volunteers continue to make progress on recovery efforts,” Brown said. “I cannot thank them enough for their efforts.”