Austin, TX
Austin boat renters facing issues ahead of Memorial Day due to diminished lake levels
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Diminished lake levels in Austin have caused problems for boat renters of what is expected to be a busy Memorial Day weekend.
Lake levels at locations across Austin and Central Texas are in various stages of flow, according to the U.S. Geological Survey’s National Water Dashboard. Most water sources around Austin appear to be at normal or steady levels, though some, including sections of the Colorado and Blanco rivers, are measuring much below normal for this time of year.
Effects of decreased lake levels have been felt by Jacob Williams, owner of ATX Boat Rentals. The company normally operates on Lake Austin and Lake Travis, and it typically allows guests to board its boats at the Mansfield Dam Park Boat Ramp.
More: Here are 10 most popular boating locations in Texas and rules to follow
However, the ramp has been closed since September 2023 due to low water levels, according to the Travis County Parks Department. That has forced Williams, his company and his customers to pivot ahead of Memorial Day.
“It’s forced us to move everything,” Williams said. “We have to tow boats now over to Lake Austin all the time instead of just going to my house (and) hopping on boats that are already in the water.”
What are the lake levels at Lake Travis?
Lake Travis is about 48 feet below its normal level, according to Go Lake Travis, an informational site. That’s much lower than its level at this time in 2022 and 2023, according to LakesOnline.com.
What water levels are needed to boat safely?
With water levels down in some lakes and rivers across Central Texas, it’s important to know how much water you need to safely operate a boat. A variety of factors go into determining whether a body of water is deep enough to operate a boat in, but the biggest things to pay attention to are your boat’s weight and the shape of its hull.
A good rule of thumb is to make sure any body of water you’re boating on has at least one foot of water in it, according to BoatPowered.com. Even then, boaters should use depth monitors to ensure the water they’re in is deeper than that to avoid problems.
Lake Austin to experience influx of boaters this summer
Williams said having to switch around logistical operations hasn’t had a major effect on his business, but with more people being forced to use fewer lakes to rent and drive their boats, some of the lake options are becoming clogged.
“When nobody can get their boats on Lake Travis, it causes Lake Austin to be more and more packed,” Williams said. “Lake Austin will always be an option, but it’s not fun being on a smaller lake that’s extra packed.”
The city of Austin is enforcing its annual ban this Memorial Day weekend on the use of personal watercraft, wet bikes, motorized surfboards, and similar devices on Lake Austin. Kayaks, canoes, paddleboards and other non-motorized devices are still allowed.
No plans for Memorial Day? Here are 5 things to do around Austin over the holiday weekend
Texas Parks and Wildlife warns of low lake levels
A record 3.6 million Texans are expected to travel for Memorial Day, signaling a possible boon for tourism activities in the Lone Star State. That aligns with ATX Boat Rentals’ busy season, which typically begins around May and extends into September, Williams said.
That figure, coupled with Texas having more square miles of inland waterways than any other state and nearly 560,000 registered boats, means the state’s waterways are likely to be packed for the long weekend.
The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department is warning boaters of potential hazards on waterways. A year ago, the state saw 13 boating accidents during Memorial Day weekend, resulting in two boating fatalities and two drownings.
To avoid those types of accidents, the department is reminding boaters to operate at safe speeds and keep an eye out for low water areas and submerged objects, among other things.
Is Travis County in a drought?
Not really, but some parts of Central Texas are. Eastern parts of the county are not experiencing any drought conditions, and the western half is mostly experiencing abnormal to severe dry conditions.
Counties northwest of San Antonio are experiencing an extreme drought, the worst drought level in the state.
To check your county’s drought stage, check out the U.S. Drought Monitor.
AUSTIN, Texas — Some members of the Austin City Council are calling on the city manager to develop a plan for renaming Cesar Chavez Street after allegations of sexual abuse came out against the late labor leader earlier this year.
According to a memo on Friday to City Manager T.C. Broadnax, José Velásquez, Vanessa Fuentes, José “Chito” Vela and Zohaib “Zo” Qadri requested Broadnax develop a community outreach plan to gather input and assess the cost to the city, residents and businesses on renaming the street.
“The City of Austin is committed to upholding the dignity and safety of all people and affirms its unwavering support to survivors of sexual violence,” the memo said.
The council members outlined how the outreach plan should be developed and what should be included.
For the development of the plan, council members asked Broadnax to do the following steps:
- Work with the Equity Office, Transportation and Public Works Department, and other appropriate departments as needed.
- Engage Latino Community Leaders, labor unions, City Commissions and residents, businesses, neighborhood associations located on East and West Cesar Chavez Street.
- Assess estimated renaming costs to the city.
- Assess estimated renaming costs to residents and businesses on East and West Cesar Chavez Street.
- Follow additional guidelines provided by the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials (NALEO).
And the council members said the outreach plan should include:
- A series of hybrid listening sessions with at least two in-person sessions and one virtual session.
- An online survey for the public.
- A stakeholder survey for residents and businesses on East and West Cesar Chavez Street to understand the impacts of renaming the street.
The council members requested that Broadnax come up with a report by May 26 that included a plan, cost estimates and a proposed timeline for the renaming, according to the memo.
César Chávez was known for his work with the farmworker movement and co-founded the National Farm Workers Association, which later became the United Farm Workers of America, with Dolores Huerta. Huerta said she was one of the young women and girls who were groomed and sexually abused by Chávez, which resulted in two pregnancies. She gave birth to the two children and sent them to live with other families.
In her statement, Huerta said she did not know about the other women and girls and that she stayed silent for 60 years because she worried that her coming forward would hurt the farmworker movement.
Other Texas cities have already distanced themselves from Chávez. In Fort Worth, the city removed the street toppers that honored Chávez.
The Cesar E. Chavez Legacy & Educational Foundation — the foundation that hosted the nation’s largest César Chávez march in San Antonio for 29 years — announced it will soon dissolve. The City of San Antonio moved the Cesar Chavez city holiday to Good Friday, and it is requesting the public’s feedback on renaming César E. Chávez Boulevard.
Also, the Texas Education Agency (TEA) has directed all public schools to suspend any instruction or activities related to Chávez.
Chávez died on April 23, 1993, at the age of 66.
ROUND ROCK, Texas — The family of a Round Rock ISD student that was hit by a car Wednesday issued a statement asking for prayers from the community following the incident.
The incident occurred just after 3:30 p.m. Wednesday at the intersection of Teravista Club Drive and Teravista Parkway.
The child was riding a bicycle when he was struck by a vehicle while crossing in a crosswalk. He suffered from “incapacitating injuries,” according to the Texas Department of Public Safety.
According to the family statement, the victim sustained major injuries to his brain and neck. The family asked for prayers on Easter Sunday in support of the victim.
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The family of the victim are “asking the Lord to perform a miracle” on their son. They also stated that he “walked through life as everyone’s friend. He is a kind person that would help friend’s in need and with great confidence and strength, stick up for others who couldn’t stick up for themselves.”
Round Rock ISD confirmed that the student was a Teravista Elementary School student. The principal stated in the shared statement that counselors are available to help support students during this time.
The lead agencies on the Wednesday incident are the Round Rock Police Department and Texas DPS.
AUSTIN (KXAN) — “Albino” bluebonnets were spotted Friday at Inks Lake State Park in Burnet.
Inks Lake said park rangers found the unique bluebonnets beside the park’s headquarters.
Bluebonnets, or Lupinus texensis, in the U.S. are found in Texas, Louisiana, Oklahoma and Florida. The species is one of the six Lupinus species that are collectively designated the State Flower of Texas, according to the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.
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“Albino” Bluebonnets found at Texas state park in Burnet (Inks Lake State Park photo)
“This rare variation is the result of a recessive gene that must be carried by both parent plants, so it’s pretty cool to see,” the park said.
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