I just got back from the Lakeway City Park, which is usually waterfront, to take some photos showing how low Lake Travis is.  The lake is about 43 feet below its full level and these Lake Travis photographs tell it all.

Dry Hurst Creek Arm of Lake Travis

Lake Travis should be about 10-15 feet below the cliffs this time of year.

Lake Travis house on stilts

This shot shows a sailboat and several docks on dry groung.  Notice the house on stilts?  The lowest level of heated and cooled living space needs to be one foot above the floodplain.  That elevation is 723 feet above sea level.  The full level of Lake Travis is 681 feet and today the lake is at 638 feet.

This is the normal location of Hufst Harbor Marina

What we would usually see from here is Murst Harbor Marina and the floating restaurant, Johnny Fins.

Lookinng across Lake Travis to where Johnny Fins should be

One thing you can see here is a boat ramp from Sail and Ski Marina.  Perhaps they should take advantage of the drought and extend the ramp farther into Lake Travis.  You can also see the concrete blocks the marina uses to anchor to.

Another Lake Travis stilt house

Here is another house on stilts on the Hurst Creek Arm of Lake Travis.  There is an 85 foot difference between the first floor of living space of this Lake Travis home and the level of the water today.

Sam Chapman of Private Label Realty, 8300 North Mopac, #100, Austin, TX 78759, 512-293-2422
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Posted by Sam Chapman on 07/26/2009 12:19 PM   Comments (8)  
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8 Comments on Austin - the Drought in Pictures

AUG
16
2009

Hi Sam.
I am an Austin garden blogger:
http://east-side-patch.livejournal.com/

I stumbled onto your blog whilst searching for images of Lake Travis in
this drought we are experiencing. I write to ask your permission to use a
couple of your pictures in a post I am working on. I will naturally credit
the photographer :-)

The photos were shocking! I have never seen it that low...ever.

Regards,
ESP.
ESP
1:13pm • #1
AUG
31
2009
158,647 Points 1 Featured Post

ESP - sorry not to get back to you sooner.  Go ahead and use some photos.  If you don't mind, give me credit by stating "Used by permission of www.austinrealestateguy.com"
9:52am • #2
SEP
01
2009

Holy COW. I heard Fox News mention Lake Travis and I started watching. Those pictures are SHOCKING. I had been to Lake Travis and had a blast there back in the late 90's at Hippe Hollow
Jamie Taylor
8:43am • #3
SEP
18
2009

I read about the drought again today in the USA Today and wanted to see some pixs.  Very good descriptions.  That is amazing how far the finished parts of these homes are from the H2O...
Dan
12:41pm • #4
OCT
12
2009

That is a tough deal!  I hope you guys get rain soon.  We've had more than a few droughts out here in Arizona and it is not pleasant!  We will be praying for you.  -Aaron C, http://gilberthomes.com/

 
Aaron Charlton
11:29am • #5
JUL
26
2011

So are they still draining the lake to feed the rice farmers south all the way to inside Mexico?  Is there a movement to stop doing that?
katwink
1:42pm • #6
158,647 Points 1 Featured Post

katwink, it is unfortunate that the contracts with the rice farmers supercede other contracts so the LCRA must keep feeding them water.  And if you look at a map, the Colorado, which forms Lake Travis, actually drains into the Gulf at Matagorda Bay, not into Mexico.
3:16pm • #7
SEP
07
2011
209,629 Points

Amazing. I've been looking at the photos online this morning on other sites and I can only wonder how long it will take to refil the lake. 
10:58am • #8


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Sam Chapman

Lakeway, TX

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of Private Label Realty

Address: 8300 N Mopac #110, Austin, TX, 78759

Office Phone: (512) 293-2422

Cell Phone: (512) 293-2422

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Information and observations on the Austin real estate market including market stats and developments in and around Austin that affect residential real estate conditions. Perhaps a few other odds & ends as well!


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