Low water levels, long lines for Lake Travis boaters

Posted: Mon, 25 May 2009 11:19 AM - 8,847 Readers

Lake Travis water levels have fallen about 20 feet below average, making in harder for boats to reach the water.

The Lower Colorado River Authority's Krista Umscheid-Ramirez said it's so low many boat ramps don't reach the water.

"There's only four out of the 12 boat ramps that are still usable on Lake Travis, because of the lake levels," she said.

Saturday afternoon, boaters waited about 40 minutes in line before they reached the ramp, but it doesn't end there.

News 8's Russell Wilde shows us what boaters found when they got to the lake.

"Keep your eye out on the depth when you're in the water," Umscheid-Ramirez said. "Areas you might have been able to go through easily last time you were here, you might have to take your time going through, or you might not be able to get through them at all because they're too shallow."

Still, the weekend marks a holiday for many, and a time to relax, high or low water, and with or without a boat.

For Alex Mancilla and George Smith, the water wasn't too low for fishing from the shoreline.

"Definitely mind-relaxing just to sit out here and watch the waves and watch the people enjoy themselves," Smith said.

While they watched the waves, they weren't worried about the long lines and low water.

"Guys come out here in their big fancy boats, they don't want to take a chance at getting their propellers all tore up," Mancilla said.

Their only concern was the catch of the day.

* Story Contributed by: Russell Wilde

[edit]

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