LCRA has three words for you if you’re going to the Highland Lakes over Memorial Day: Safety, safety, safety!

 

Recent rains have boosted lake levels, but hazards remain

MAY 24, 2024

​AUSTIN, Texas – Levels in lakes Buchanan and Travis are higher than they have been for several months, but that doesn’t mean the lakes are hazard free or that Memorial Day visitors should ignore tried and true safety rules.

“If there’s one thing I would impress on every visitor to the lakes, it would be to keep safety as your top priority,” said Chief Jason Hoffman, who heads the Lower Colorado River Authority Public Safety team.

“It’s fun to be on the lakes, but it’s not a time to be careless,” he said. “So many of the problems people encounter on the water could be avoided if they wore life jackets and slowed down a bit in boats. We want everyone who visits to have a great time and make it home safely.”

LCRA expects this to be a busy weekend on the Highland Lakes and reminds visitors to:

  • Wear a life jacket, which is the single best thing you can do to prevent drowning. Swimming in a lake is very different from swimming in a pool. In addition to underwater hazards, swimmers may encounter swift-flowing water and sudden changes in water depth. In addition, many people underestimate the amount of energy it takes to swim long distances, which can result in a dangerous situation.
  • Beware of hidden hazards such as debris, trees and other items that may be under the surface of the water. The bottom of a lake is uneven and sudden drop-offs are common. Though some areas of the lakes are more than 100 feet deep, other areas are quite shallow.
  • Know the signs of drowning and be ready to assist when someone is in trouble. People who are drowning rarely are able to splash or draw attention to themselves. People in distress often are vertical in the water, not horizontal, and have their heads tilted back to attempt to get air. Keep an eye on everyone in your party and be ready to provide a flotation device to anyone in distress. Remember to keep yourself out of danger when providing assistance.

For more lake safety tips, visit belakewise.org. For information on lake levels on the Highland Lakes, visit the LCRA River Operations Report at hydromet.lcra.org/riverreport/.