Despite low water levels, Lake Travis will be open for business this Labor Day holiday.

 

“Many people from the Dallas area seem to think the lake is closed, and that is just not true,” said Don Kahn, a longtime ski instructor on Lake Travis. “It is unfortunate, because the lake gets a lot of its business from that area.”

Kahn blames media reports, which he said tell only part of the story.

“The public boat ramps may be closed, but there are a lot of private boat ramps that are open and available,” he said. “You can easily get on the lake.”

Kahn said the lake is actually safer than normal because many of the obstacles just below the water when the lake is full, are fully above the water line.

“When people come up here, I urge them to read the map at the marina to know where the low water obstacles are,” Kahn said. “Stay away from Point Venture — that is shallow water when the lake is full. Right now it is less dangerous than usual. But all in all, it is safer today than when it is full from the standpoint of boating hazards.”

Kahn, now in his 80s, has been teaching water skiing on the lake since the City of Lakeway was founded.

“When the lake is full, people don’t know about ‘Sometimes Island,’ but you can see it now, and avoid it,” he said, noting he wants to encourage tourism at the lake. “Labor Day is coming up, and gossip and rumors say the lake is closed. The lake is not closed.”

He said businesses are taking it on the chin, and it isn’t necessary because there is plenty of recreation to be had on Lake Travis.

“Businesses are seeing a drop — up to 40 percent of their business,” Kahn said. “People are being misled by the media. It is not fair for these restaurants and marinas.”

Authorities advised boaters — even those intimately familiar with Lake Travis — to follow precautions because of the increased number of obstacles such as rocks, stumps, and islands jutting up from the water’s surface.

“Very few people have seen lake levels this low before,” said Bill Hagey, boating and water safety coordinator for the Lower Colorado River Authority.

LCRA will station additional patrols on the lake for the Labor Day weekend.

“The number of boaters will be down so we won’t have the same number of officers,” Hagey said, adding that they will be working with other enforcement agencies such as Texas Parks and Wildlife Department to monitor the lake.

TPWD statistics show a decline in the number of boating-related injuries on Lake Travis over the last three years from 73 in 2006 to 43 in 2007 to 20 in 2008. The department reports 12 boating-related injuries thus far this year. However, nine water-related deaths were recorded on Lake Travis last year and one last month, so officials urge everyone out on the lake to use caution.

Statewide, however, the number of boating-related accidents and fatalities has risen. TPWD reports state 258 accidents occurred in 2006, 260 in 2007, and 271 in 2008. Fatalities rose from 47 in 2006 to 52 in 2007 to 61 in 2008.

Hagey urged boaters to wear lifejackets, noting that children should not wear adult-sized lifejackets.

“That’s extremely dangerous. [Lifejackets] just don’t work that way,” he said, noting that 90 percent of all drowning victims were not wearing lifejackets.

Boaters should check the weather and weather forecast before going out on the lake, hydrate themselves and wear sunscreen. They also must maintain a 50-foot distance from other watercraft when at maneuvering speed and avoid nighttime boating, Hagey said. In addition, they should call 9-1-1 if they experience an emergency on the lake. Paying attention to milemarkers on the lake is invaluable in assisting a dispatcher in locating where the incident is occurring.

Intoxication limits of .08 blood alcohol content apply on the lake as well as on the road. Boating While Intoxicated charges will be filed.

“If anyone is going to be drinking alcohol, please do so responsibly,” LCRA manager Tim Bradle said.

The agency has partnered with TPWD for four years on Nobody’s Waterproof, a water safety campaign that is in full effect this summer. LCRA operated a personal watercraft simulator and outreach program Aug. 29 at Inks Lake State Park and had a campaign boat on Lake LBJ. For information on the campaign, visit www.nobodyswaterproof.com.

Authorities also will be out in force to patrol area roads and highways.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is leading “Drunk Driving. Over the Limit. Under Arrest,” a national campaign to crack down on under-the-influence driving.

An estimated 11,000 police departments and other law enforcement agencies across the nation will team up in an effort to lower the number of drunken driving-related fatalities. Nearly 12,000 DWI-related deaths were recorded in 2008, with 40 percent of all fatal crashes during last year’s Labor Day holiday involving a drunken driver, according to the NHTSA Web site.

“Police will be redoubling their efforts during this high-risk travel period to ensure that impaired drivers are detected and arrested,” the Web site stated.

Lakeway Police Department spokesman Detective Mary Proctor urged motorists to wear their seatbelts, drive safely, and not drink and drive.

“Take your time getting to your destination. Don’t be in a hurry. We want you to arrive there safely,” Proctor said.

Bee Cave Police Chief Rusty Pancoast echoed Proctor’s message and encouraged driver’s to remain alert, even if they haven’t been drinking.

“For those of us [drivers] who haven’t been drinking, we should be observant of those who have,” Pancoast advised.

He also warned drivers to avoid driving home late Monday night because fatigue will set in.

Roger Wade, public information officer for the Travis County Sheriff’s Office, said sheriffs will be participating in Selected Traffic Enforcement Period (STEP) through Sept. 7 with increased patrols.

“We’ll have people out and about. We’re hoping it will be an uneventful Labor Day,” Wade said, encouraging people to celebrate the holiday responsibly.

 Editor Charles McClure contributed to this report. He may be reached at news@ltview.com.