The ban was updated July 13 to reflect that only areas upstream of mile marker 36 and Sandy Creek Park will remain closed.
The overview
The ban was first ordered Friday, July 11. It continues provisions laid out in a Declaration of Disaster issued July 5 by Travis County Judge Andy Brown, which was ordered to be continued by the Travis County Commissioners Court on July 8.
The ban states that, due to health and safety hazards present in Lake Travis from recent flooding, all recreational usage of waterways in applicable areas is banned.
The ban does not apply to emergency responders, commercial operators, or representatives of state or local agencies that need to access Lake Travis, according to the order.
Some context
The Lower Colorado River Authority has urged Lake Travis visitors and residents to stay off local waterways following recent flooding events.
On July 14, the LCRA shared an updated news release that stated that residents should continue to exercise caution and avoid being on the lake.
“We Texans love being on the lakes during the summer, but this is not the time and not the place,” said John Hofmann, LCRA executive vice president of water, in the news release. “There continue to be significant flood flows throughout the Highland Lakes, and we strongly advise everyone to stay off the lakes for the next few days.”
The lakes also currently contain debris and high levels of bacteria following flooding, according to the release.
The city of Austin also issued a ban on city waterway usage July 5, which it later extended to July 8. Areas in which recreational use was prohibited included Barton Creek, Bull Creek, parts of Lake Austin, Lady Bird Lake and the Colorado River downstream of Longhorn Dam.
What else?
The Travis County ban order also advises visitors and residents of Travis County to avoid driving on roads with flooding damage due to safety concerns.