More public boat ramps likely to close because of drought

Posted: Sat, 20 Jun 2009 07:45 AM - 10,538 Readers

By: Juana Summers

Water levels on Lake Travis, Buchanan continue to fall.

Falling lake levels caused by a two-year drought in Central Texas threaten to shut down more public boat ramps before the July 4 holiday weekend, officials said.

At least 10 of the 12 boat ramps into Lake Travis are closed, and at least two of the four boat ramps into Lake Buchanan are unavailable, according to the Lower Colorado River Authority.

Two of the four docks at Mansfield Dam Park on Lake Travis might be unavailable by July 4 if levels continue to fall, LCRA spokeswoman Krista Umscheid-Ramirez said. But officials won't decide that until next week.

Lake Travis is losing more than a foot of water a week, according to LRCA reports, and Buchanan is losing about half a foot.

The Hill Country would need 8 to 12 inches of rain for local lakes to be full again, LCRA meteorologist Bob Rose said. But as Central Texas enters the driest part of the year, Rose said he doesn't expect to see more frequent rain until fall.

* Story Contributed by: Juana Summers

[edit]

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