Boating question for old timers... Pedernales drought and no-wake zones (Briar: houses, ferry)

[gjockey]

Hi,

I've heard that the Pedernales river is a favorite spot for water sports (I've seen a couple online videos with wakeboarders doing tricks on the Pedernales with what appears to be the the 71 bridge in the background looking North).

As far back as you can remember, has there ever been another drought that made this spot not passable by boat?

Also, from the area of 71 bridge/Pedernales river, is the nearest fuel dock at Briarcliff Marina? The waterway looks kind of tight... are there wake regulations on the river heading to the main body of water on Lake Travis?

Thanks

[hoffdano]

I think the Pedernales has likely been "dry" in 2000 and 2006. The lake reached a low of 640' in 2000 and 643' in 2006. That is about where the lake is now.

Closest marina is probably Lago Vista.

Don't know about wake regulations today. I water skiied the Pedernales a long time ago and the water was terrific.

But that was before wakeboard boats and the monster wakes they throw. Even worse with the wake surfers.

[gjockey]

Interesting... So do most of those waterfront houses on the Pedernales go from waterfront to swamp front every 5 years or so?

[hoffdano]

Originally Posted by gjockey

Interesting... So do most of those waterfront houses on the Pedernales go from waterfront to swamp front every 5 years or so?

Probably not every 5 years on historical average. Maybe more like every ten. But I don't know what lake level makes the Pedernales unusable. LCRA posts historical levels by month for every year on their website.

[Danbo1957]

I've fished under the 71 bridge over the Pedernales River for 40 years-- this past year the river was dry all the way upstream from the lake. We need a lot rain to fill the underwater springs.

Last July, 2011:

Central Texas river almost bone dry

This March, 2012:

Rain fills once dry Pedernales River on MSN Video

[gjockey]

Hoffdano,

Thanks for the LCRA tip. Really useful info they provide. Here's the link where you can download monthly lake level data from 1989 to now...

Historical Lake Levels

[Gorfml]

the perd at 71 is the best place to wakeboard in texas!... bring on the rain satan!

[Gorfml]

btw the boat ramp down old ferry road closes at 661ish level...

[CptnRn]

I have not been down there recently, but last summer it looked like this. We have had some rain, but I'm not sure its been enough to change that picture much.


http://republicofaustin.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/Lake-Travis-Drought-1.jpg (broken link)

The LCRA Hydromet map is showing 27 cfs water flow at Johnson City so there is some water flowing in the Pedernales. http://hydromet.lcra.org/full.aspx

[gjockey]

Are there any/many wake regulations on the stretch of river from the 71 Bridge/Pedernales to the main body of Lake Travis.... say around Briarcliff Marina? On a map, the stretch looks like 20 miles... When the river is full, could you maintain a 30 mph cruise on a center console type boat through most of it?