In an effort to keep Austinites and visitors safe, the City of Austin is extending the prohibition of the use of Austin waterways until noon, Tuesday, July 8. Personal and commercial watercraft, wet bikes, motorized surfboards, canoes, kayaks, paddleboards, and other similar devices are not allowed on waterways in Austin. This includes creeks and streams.

Runoff from excessive rainfall over the area this weekend has resulted in high and swift waters which, combined with debris makes recreational, commercials, and navigational use of area waterways unsafe. 

Personal and commercial watercraft are prohibited from use on all Austin waterways, including:

• Barton Creek
• Bull Creek
• 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.  View the orders.