Flooding!!?? Lakes OK? (Austin, Spring, Del Rio: condo, how much, authority)

[kerrilwhar4]

Hi all! 1st I wanna say how much i enjoy reading the informative and diverse posts - keeps things in perspective as we contemplate a relocation from nj to austin!!!

we will be coming to Austin area in a week (for 10 day vacation/check out areas) and and are staying at the Island on lake travis in Lago Vista. does anyone know if the recent rain will affect our ability to swim, boat etc. on the lake? (we were in austin last may and the lake was pretty low so i'm sure the rain is welcome!) i know the resort/condo's were closed early July but are apparently open for business now.

also, we have scheduled to do a zip line/canopy tour in Cypress Valley, schlitterbahn (of course) and a possible day or day and a half trip to del rio. anyone have any info, suggestions etc? and is the Salt Lick the best BBQ?

any replies welcome!

[TX-Griff]

Lake Travis was closed to recreational boating for the looooongest time (debris dangers due to hellatious rains the last several months), but recently reopened... all LCRA (Lower Colorado River Authority) lakes are now open to recreational boating. This is current as of TODAY.

You can check the LCRA's 'Situation Report' online at FLOOD STATUS - SITUATION REPORT and the LCRA's press releases at LCRA: Energy. Water. Community Services for the most current Lake info.

However, pleeeeeease be cautious about low-water areas... don't cross 'em! Don't even THINK about crossing 'em! If you encounter water on the road sufficient that you can't see the road... DON'T DROWN, TURN AROUND! Yes, that sentiment does come from a billboard... as well as our AMBER ALERT signs.

11 people died in June due to flood waters... don't take chances with water around here, okey-dokey?

TX Griff

[kerrilwhar4]

Thanks so much for the info and links - I will keep checking in...

Also, thanks for the heads up on the low water areas - will definitely keep in mind when out on the roads!

[equus007]

TX has slow floods followed by flash flooding. Most of Central Texas is sitting on top of a giant limestone slab that is riddled with caves and fissures forming auqifers underground. During the dry times these aquifers dry out to expose fantastic interconnected cave systems along the various branches of the balcones fault. With regular heavy rain these aquifers along with "the lakes"(which are just successive barricaded sections of the river but still nice)fill. Eventualy the LCRA will open the flood gates after the lower towns around Lake Travis have flooded and many routes will be shut due to flooding of above mentioned low water crossings(Tx-Griff is by no means understating the issue. The city has begun to charge parents with child endangerment for attempting to cross low water crossings).

ok so now we have mild slow flooding...and then it keeps raining. There is no more room left in the aquifers to collect water so it simply flows downhill gaining momentum. Flash floods are fairly rare in Austin but do occur seasonaly in the hillier parts.

Lakes in general should be avoided by swimmers during flooding. In Austin we have a larger problem with bacteria in our greenbelt creeks and Barton Springs.

[TheHarvester]

Originally Posted by kerrilwhar4

...we have scheduled...a possible day or day and a half trip to del rio. anyone have any info, suggestions etc? and is the Salt Lick the best BBQ?

Del Rio? Why? It's very far away, but I guess that's good if you want to see what's between here and there. I hope you're going there for white-water rafting or birding, can't think of any other reason to go. It's often one of the hottest places in the USA.

This is a bizarre summer, very much to my liking because I prefer green and wet to hot and dry. Nobody knows when the rain will end. Every week the forecast seems to be the same, they tell us that things will dry out but then a new low pressure area forms and we get more rain. I'm not placing any bets on what will happen next week, but eventually it WILL get hot and dry.

I think most BBQ fans would agree that the Salt Lick is NOT the best BBQ around, but if you go to the location in Driftwood then it's probably the best ambiance and the prettiest drive. Used to be prettier before it go built up. Now you'll have ginormous pickup trucks and SUV's on your tail all the way there... even though it's two-lane blacktop with no shoulder, locals like to drive around 80MPH and they don't mind riding up on you like they're trying to hitch onto the back of your sled. But it's still very pretty out that way, I just wish it were relaxing to drive there like it was 15 years ago.