EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY: Lake Austin, Lady Bird Lake, and Colorado River Closures

As a result of all of the heavy rains, and at the request of the LCRA Emergency Management Team and the City of Austin Homeland Security and Emergency Management, the Fire Chief has decided to close Lake Austin, Lady Bird Lake, and the Colorado River downstream of Longhorn Dam. The flooding upstream and the threat of more rain has caused concern and the LCRA has already started releasing water from various dams around the Hill Country. The water will flow downstream of Austin and is not expected to worsen the current flooding situation on the Colorado River downstream of Austin.

Photo: Statesman

The Austin Fire Department posted this statement today on Facebook:

The LCRA Emergency Management Team has decided that it is necessary to start moving water ASAP; the flooding upstream and the potential for more rain has made this emergent. At the request of LCRA and the City of Austin Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management (HSEM), the Fire Chief has decided that EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY we are closing Lake Austin, Lady Bird Lake, and the Colorado River downstream of Longhorn Dam. The closure is until Wednesday, June 1 at noon but we will be evaluating conditions each day. We apologize for the timing and inconvenience but this is beyond our control. Obviously, safety comes first.

Photo: KXAN

Helicopter announcements are being made to notify those who are already on the lake. As the above statement notes, the lakes are expected to reopen at noon on June 1, 2016. Intense storms have been unleashing an insane amount of rain water throughout Texas, and more rain is expected this week. It is possible that these closures may be extended if mother nature remains insistent on producing unbelievable amounts of rain and lake levels continue to rise. Hopefully, this will not be the case. Stay safe Texas Hill Country.