July 5, 2025
Flood Safety Concerns Prompt Ban of Use on Area Waterways
Effective immediately, the City of Austin is prohibiting the use of Austin waterways. This includes using personal and commercial watercraft, wet bikes, motorized surfboards, canoes, kayaks, paddleboards, and other similar devices on all waterways in Austin, including creeks and streams until noon, Monday, July 7, 2025.
Recent storms have brought over two to four inches of rainfall to the Austin area and an additional two inches of rainfall are expected into the evening. Rainfall has created high and swift waters which, combined with debris, has made recreational, commercial, and navigational use of area waterways within the City of Austin 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 are also urged to not use riverfront trails and move to higher ground. If you are near a riverbank for recreational use, please exit the areas now for your safety. Flash flooding can lead to water rising quickly.
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.
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