City Issues Waterways Ban Until Tuesday

Due to floodgate operations initiated by the Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA) and Austin Water, the City of Austin has issued a waterway ban effective immediately Friday, July 17. 

The ban is an effort to keep Austinites and visitors safe as water conditions are anticipated to have faster flows and increased debris in the water make recreational, commercial, and navigational use of area waterways unsafe. The ban is in effect until 5 p.m., Tuesday, July 21. 

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.