Austin, TX

Austin boat renters facing issues ahead of Memorial Day due to diminished lake levels

Published

2 years ago

May 25, 2024

Austin boat renters facing issues ahead of Memorial Day due to diminished lake levels

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.

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Austin, TX

Delta doubling flight schedule between Las Vegas and Austin, Texas – CDC Gaming

Published

11 hours ago

May 18, 2026

Press Room

Delta doubling flight schedule between Las Vegas and Austin, Texas – CDC Gaming

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Monday, May 18, 2026 7:20 PM

Richard N. Velotta, Las Vegas Review-Journal

The second-busiest commercial air carrier at Harry Reid International Airport is expanding service to and from Austin, Texas.

Atlanta-based Delta Air Lines will double the number of daily flights to and from the Texas capital to two beginning in the fall.

Demand for trips to Austin, which calls itself “The Live Music Capital of the World” and features multiple music festivals all year, including March’s SWSX multimedia event, is growing, according to Delta. The airline said it expects both markets will benefit from the service expansion.

Delta competes on the route with market leader Southwest Airlines, Frontier Airlines and Allegiant Air.

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Austin, TX

Austin, Texas shooting leaves 4 injured, 3 in custody. What we know

Published

23 hours ago

May 18, 2026

Press Room

Austin, Texas shooting leaves 4 injured, 3 in custody. What we know

Three juvenile individuals are in custody following a weekend crime spree of 12 shootings that left four people injured and multiple car thefts in Austin, Texas.

The crimes occurred starting at 4 p.m. on Saturday, May 16, and ended on Sunday, May 17, resulting in the arrest of a 15-year-old, a 17-year-old and a third individual, Austin Police Department Chief Lisa Davis said Sunday, May 17.

“The 17-year-old has a warrant for his arrest for a theft of a gun from the same store the 15-year-old stole a gun from,” Davis said at a news conference.

The string of crimes started when Austin PD was first notified of a stolen vehicle from an apartment complex, followed by the theft of a firearm. Following that, Davis said an estimated 20 service calls were received in the South and Southeast Austin areas regarding the individuals.

“Two times they fired at a firehouse and struck a truck,” Davis said. “Into apartment buildings where officers had to go door to door, ensuring that everyone was safe.”

In total, two separate fire houses, several buildings and apartment complexes were fired upon by the individuals, in addition to four vehicles being stolen.

Of the four individuals injured, three have been confirmed to have sustained non-life-threatening injuries, with the fourth sustaining critical injuries.

Police were able to connect these events to the three individuals, but Davis said there is no known motive for the series of events.

The crime spree concluded when Manor PD conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle that the individuals were driving. The individuals fled, but two of them were apprehended on Sunday.

Following the news conference, the Manor Police Department announced a third individual — a juvenile — who had fled the vehicle earlier on Sunday had been detained with no ongoing threat to the public.

Gov. Greg Abbott released a statement on social media calling the individuals dangerous.

“If they are ever released from jail, they will surely harm again,” Abbott said. “The DA & Court must do their job and keep these criminals behind bars.”

Anyone with information should contact the Aggravated Assault Unit at 512-974-5177 or submit tips anonymously through austincrimestoppers.org or by calling 512-472-8477.

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Austin, TX

2 arrested, 3rd suspect sought after series of shootings in Austin, Texas

Published

1 day ago

May 17, 2026

Press Room

Anadolu staff

18 May 2026•Update: 18 May 2026

Two suspects were taken into custody and police continued searching for a third suspect on Sunday following a series of shootings in Austin, Texas that injured four people, authorities said.

Austin Police Department Chief Lisa Davis said the suspects were linked to at least 10 attacks carried out between Saturday and Sunday, adding that one victim sustained serious injuries while three others suffered minor wounds.

Police said the shootings appeared to be random and that no clear motive had been identified. Most incidents occurred in South Austin, including at least two shootings targeting fire stations.

“At this time, the investigation is ongoing, and APD (Austin Police Department) asks that our community remain vigilant,” the department said in a press release.

Authorities lifted a shelter-in-place order that had been issued for parts of South Austin, while a separate order remained in effect Sunday in the nearby Manor area as officers searched for the remaining suspect.

The Austin Fire Department said two of its stations were struck by gunfire in separate incidents late Saturday and Sunday morning, though no firefighters were injured and only minor damage was reported.

Officials urged residents to remain vigilant and asked anyone with information to contact police or Crime Stoppers, a community-based, non-profit program that allows citizens to submit anonymous tips about criminal activity and unsolved cases.

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