AUSTIN, Texas – Warm temperatures are luring boaters and swimmers to Central Texas lakes.

With summer on the way, the Travis County Sheriff’s Office and local boat rental companies are talking about water safety.

“It’s horrible, it is the last thing we want to see. We want everyone who comes out to have a good time, and we hate to see anyone’s good time turn into a tragedy,” said Kristen Dark, Travis County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson.

In 2023, four missing swimmers were recovered from Lake Travis. In 2022,there were six missing swimmers recovered.

The year before that, there were 10 missing swimmers recovered, according to TCSO.

“The primary piece of advice I can give is to make sure you are wearing a life jacket, make sure you are wearing that flotation device. We have never recovered someone from Lake Travis who had on a safety vest,” said Dark.

“Anyone under the age of 13, by law, has to wear a life jacket at all times while on a boat. It helps you stay afloat in case anything happens,” said Collin Cornwell, Big Tex Boat Rentals owner.

If a swimmer is assisting with a possible drowning, the sheriff’s office also suggests wearing a life jacket to help with the rescue.

“That lake is up to 200 feet deep in certain places, it doesn’t matter how good of a swimmer you are, when an emergency strikes, you literally have seconds, so it is important to use every safety precaution you can,” said Dark.

The sheriff’s office said it is important to maintain a safe distance, have a sound signaling device and know where you are on any lake. This can be determined using mile markers or landmarks.

“It is also important that you follow other safety precautions, another one is not to drink and operate a boat,” said Dark.

“Definitely don’t drink and drive a boat. It is highly against the law when it comes to drinking on the lake. It gets really humid so be responsible and drink a bunch of water,” said Cornwell.

Cornwell says during the Memorial Day weekend, large groups of boaters spent the day at Lake Travis and Lake Austin.

There were no reported drownings by the Austin Police Department or Travis County Sheriff’s Office.

In Portland’s 16th match of the season, they take on Austin in a Western Conference showdown. Head coach Josh Wolff has Austin comfortably in the Western Conference top-5 and their recent form has been an intriguing development after starting the 2024 campaign winless in their first five game (0-2-3). Since then, they have turned it around, catapulting up the standings and amassing a 6-2-3 record over that span.

Designated Player Sebastian Driussi continues to lead the ATX attack and has recorded six goal involvements thus far in 2024 (5g, 1a). Forwards Jader Obrian (3g, 2a) and Diego Rubio (3g) have complemented Driussi and defensive midfielder Daniel Pereira has kept their transition play under control as he leads the team in interceptions per 90 minutes (1.4). Austin’s backline has been putting in work, reflected in their recent form. Centerbacks Matt Hedges and Brendan Hines-Ike have been exceptional, with Hedges leading the team in clearances per game (5.4) and Hines-Ike showing his offensive prowess in their last match, scoring the game-tying goal for the Texan club. Austin goalkeeper Brad Stuver currently leads the league in saves per game (4.5) and goals prevented (6.1).