City Extends Waterways Ban Until Thursday

Due to continued floodgate operations at Mansfield Dam and Tom Miller Dam by the Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA), the City of Austin has extended the waterway ban current in effect until 5 p.m., Thursday, July 23.

The 48-hour extension is necessary because higher and faster flows are expected to continue on the water for several days as multiple floodgates will remain open at Tom Miller Dam to pass through waters from Mansfield Dam. Floodgate operations will halt at Mansfield Dam on Wednesday, but hydrogeneration will continue, requiring the need for floodgates to remain open at Tom Miller. 

Austin Water will keep flood gates at Longhorn Dam open until flow from Tom Miller Dam slows to a point where current flood operations can be safely scaled back.

The ban is extended in an effort to keep Austinites and visitors safe as water conditions may not be safe for recreational, commercial, and navigational use at this time.  

Personal and commercial watercraft, wet bikes, motorized surfboards, canoes, kayaks, paddleboards, and other similar devices are not allowed on the following waterways in Austin:

• Lake Austin from Mansfield Dam to Tom Miller Dam

• Lady Bird Lake

• Colorado River downstream of Longhorn Dam

Residents and visitors also are urged to avoid riverfront trails which may be unsafe to navigate and are susceptible to flash flooding at this time due to raised water levels. 

City Code Section 8-5-21 authorizes the Fire Chief to issue such prohibitions on waterways after determining that flooding is occurring or likely to occur.