Town lake: gettin' better all the time. Credit: Photo by Richard Whittaker

More good news for Austin boaters: the city has announced that most of Lake Austin, Town Lake and the Colorado River below Longhorn dam have reopened. However, for safety reasons, there’s still a boating ban in effect on Lake Austin from downstream of Oyster Landing boat docks to the Tom Miller Dam, and from Tom Miller Dam to Red Bud Trail on Town Lake. The city is hoping to be able to re-open this stretch by noon on Monday.

All the Highland lakes managed by the Lower Colorado River Authority have now re-opened. As of this morning, they’ve even closed the last floodgate on Mansfield dam, at the end of Lake Travis.

Still, don’t get too close to it: even though the floodgates are closed, there’s still 7,000 cubic feet of water per second flowing through the hydroelectric turbines. Plus, if there’s more rain, the LCRA may have to open the floodgates again with no or little warning.

This article appears in July 20 • 2007.

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The Chronicle's first Culture Desk editor, Richard has reported on Austin's growing film production and appreciation scene for over a decade. A graduate of the universities of York, Stirling, and UT-Austin, a Rotten Tomatoes certified critic, and eight-time Best of Austin winner, he's currently at work on two books and a play.