By Dane Anderson, Staff Writer

Drought conditions in Central Texas haven’t had much of an impact on Lake Austin this year, according to Austin Parks and Recreation Department officials.

 The popular waterway winds its way through the Westbank and the Hill Country is capped by Lake Travis on its north end and Tom Miller Dam on the south. 

Ramp closings on sister Lake Travis haven’t increased the boat traffic yet on Lake Austin but may as the summer months progress, said Stuart Strong, assistant director of the APRD.

The Lower Colorado River Authority keeps the 69-year-old Lake Austin treasure at a constant water level through the use of the dam. LCRA, the city of Austin and local residents use the popular lake for flood control, drinking water, electrical power generation and recreation. It has become a favorite haunting ground for fishermen, boaters and people who just like to soak up the scenery presented by the natural limestone cliffs and multimillion-dollar private residences. 

Most of the boat docks on Lake Austin are privately owned, but the Austin Parks and Recreation Department and Travis County Web sites list four public boat ramps. The Austin Parks and Recreation Department operates Walsh Boat Landing with a dock and two-lane boat ramp at 1600 Scenic Drive and Emma Long Park with a one-lane boat ramp at 1600 City Park Road. Travis County operates Mary Quinlan Park with one boat ramp on Quinlan Park Road off of Ranch Road 620 and the Loop 360 Boat Ramp with a three-lane boat ramp on the east side of Loop 360 below the southern end of Pennybacker Bridge. 

The Austin Parks and Recreation Department also operates Commons Ford Park, a 215-acre park without a ramp at 614 Commons Ford Road off of Cuernavaca Road. Travis County operates two additional parks without boat ramps on Lake Austin, the 5-acre Fritz Hughes Park below Mansfield Dam on Fritz Hughes Park Road and the 5-acre Selma Hughes Park on Quinlan Park Road off of Ranch Road 620.

The city of Austin often lowers the level of Lake Austin at some point during the winter to freeze off hydrilla and pondweed.

 Strong said the Parks and Recreation department has not yet been notified of any plan to lower the lake level this winter. 

Strong said boaters should maintain prudent speed and be cautious of other boats, smaller crafts and swimmers when navigating the waters of Lake Austin.