For boaters, especially those who don’t spend a lot of time on the lake, knowing about underwater hazards can be tricky. People who spend a lot of time in boats know to follow bouys that mark the main channel. Experienced boaters also probably know that the deep water is usually by cliffs or very steep terrain. Anyone out on the lake at night might be asking for trouble, especially if they have not spend a lot of time on Lake Travis.
For Marina owners, getting the docks farther out as the water drops can be an ordeal. First, they have to have a wide enough and deep enough cove so that they actually have room to let things out farther. Next, they have to manage their underwater power and sewer lines. They also have to extend their floating walkways. The new marina on Rough Hollow is having a problem being on a narrow cove. They have docks on both sides of the cove under normal conditions. Currently these docks are touching and boats couldn’t get in or out if they needed to.
As an aside, there is a huge benefit from Lake Travis being this low. People with waterfront properties can extend boat ramps, stairs and walkways. They can repair trams, rails and other structures that are usually under water. They can also clean trash from along the shore without getting into scuba gear. Fishermen can locate what may be good fishing areas by looking at what are usually underwater formations.
Let’s now go to the flip side – rising water. When we get rain in the Hill Country several things can happen. If the ground is extremely dry as it has been lately, a gentle rain will soak in and most of the water will never reach the lake. Even if we get a gully washer, much of the rain may soak in if we don’t get more than 2” or so. However, if the ground is saturated and we get a heavy rain, Lake Travis can rise in a hurry. This is when things get really interesting.
I have personally seen Lake Travis rise 20 or so feet in a week or less twice. Keep in mind that the area that drains into Lake Travis is very large. Significant rains falling over a large area can create havoc. Imagine managing a personal boat dock or a marina during these times. Imagine if you are doing maintenance and the water comes up this quickly. Imagine if you have a home below 695 feet or so. Imagine also the debris that can be washed into the lake as trees come down from flash flooding.
The highest Lake Travis has ever been was about 711 feet back during the Christmas flood of 1991. Heavy rain fell over a very large area of the Lake Travis drainage basin. The rain was so heavy and widespread, the LCRA compared it to Hurricane Allison when it almost drowned Houston. Lake Travis went up 33 feet in four days. Four days – can you imagine such a thing? As Lake Travis is the primary flood control lake in the area, the managing authority, the Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA) had its work cut out for it. They had to balance the flooding above Mansfield Dam and that below it. So much rain fell to the east, the LCRA was already contending with significant flooding downstream. The simply couldn't’t open as many flood gates as was needed to lessen flooding upstream.
OK, now that you have read about how significantly Lake Travis can fluctuate, how often does this happen? Not that often. The highest the lake has ever been was about 711 feet. The lowest, back in the 1950s, was around 614 feet. This sure seems dramatic. Imagine the level of a lake fluctuating close to 100 feet in depth. Please keep in mind that these extremes were about 50 years apart. The most I have ever seen Lake Travis fluctuate in one season was the flood of 1991. Was it dramatic? Yes. Was it dangerous? Certainly. Was it a rare event? You bet it was.
All that being said, Lake Travis is a fabulous lake for recreation and on which to own property. It is normally quite clear. The water color can be a deep, dark blue, light blue or blue-green. The lake is lined with marinas and restaurants. It is close enough to Dallas and Houston so many people own second homes on Lake Travis. If you are a Lake Travis home owner or a boater, all you need to do is check the weather report and keep your eye to the sky and you’ll love Lake Travis!
Return to Austin Real Estate Articles