Lake Austin Drawdown Approved  (posted Dec 15, 2001)

Mail from Shirley Coleman on Rabbittalk reported that " the LCRA Board of Directors at their meeting this morning unanimously approved the drawdown of Lake Austin beginning January 2. There were about eight people - members of the public, all speaking in favor of the drawdown and most encouraging LCRA to take a bigger role in developing a long-term solution to the hydrilla problem.
The lake will start going down on Jan. 2 and it will be a fast drawdown - about five days. It's scheduled to stay down for 6 weeks and start refilling on Feb. 16. LCRA does provide that it could be refilled sooner "in an emergency" (such as a flood event). If you want to see LCRA's actual press release, here is the link: LCRA BOARD APPROVES SIX-WEEK LOWERING OF LAKE AUSTIN
We are working now to figure out what our next step should be. The City is talking to TPWD about a tracking study with 25 carp. ... I want to see us move toward a long-term solution, even though we're going to see some short-term relief from the drawdown. I'd like to hear from anybody who has ideas or input about strategy.

Hydrilla Report to Environmental Board

The final report presented to the City of Austin Environmental Board hearing (on November 1) is available, CLICK HERE.  It was handed out in a packet for those who attended, but not everyone may have received it because of the large crowd.

Hydrilla Presentation from Mary Gilroy

The presentation by Mary Gilroy, shown at the 9/19/00 neighborhood meeting, is available online, CLICK HERE.

Hydrilla Local Pictures and Web Links

Here are some Lake Austin pictures, courtesy of Mary Gilroy, City of Austin Watershed Protection Department.  Click on the thumbnail picture to see a full-size picture (each will display full screen in the browser; click 'back' to come back to this page).
 

Just upstream of Loop 360

Looking upstream from Loop 360

Close up of plants

Looking upstream from Loop 360

City Park Swim Area

Shoreline across from City Park

Swim area at Lake Austin Estates park

Dense hydrilla being pulled up on a rake

Large mat that  broke free and  drifted against the shoreline

Here are links to Hydrilla pictures on the University of Florida's page  Click on the thumbnail picture to see a full-size picture (each will display full screen in the browser; click 'back' to come back to this page).
         Withlacoochee River in Florida:

Picture 1

Picture 2

Picture 3 (contour like Lake Austin)

Many in the neighborhood have received a letter from Mary Gilroy, City of Austin, about the public hearing on Hydrilla, November 1, 2000, at 7 PM. here is the City's online Public Hearing notice. As Jack Williams said in his note on Rabbittalk -

"Please put this mtg on your calendars & plan to attend!
We need a strong turnout for this meeting in order to make sure the Environmental Board takes action NOW to address the burgeoning Hydrilla problem in Lake Austin before it gets totally out of  control.

If you can't see the invasion from your front decks, and if you missed Mary's ominous slides at our last Neighborhood Mtg, call & I'll get you pictures or, better, we'll get you signed up for one of the lakefront Hydrilla-harvesting parties going on now -- and then you'll understand.

If you care about Lake Austin, now's the time to show up & speak up!

Thanks, Jack

Neighborhood Meeting 9/19/00

The first speaker was Mary Gilroy, of the City's Watershed Protection Department, who gave a presentation and answered questions about the Hydrilla problem on Lake Austin. She had two handouts: the Hydrilla information was a printed copy of the informaiton on the City's Hydrilla Web page; the other is a Control Options for Shoreline Areas sheet.  Click on the links to view. Mary had a very informative presentation, which is not now available online.

Contact Information for Mary Gilroy is:  Phone  499-2717;     Email   mary.gilroy@ci.austin.tx.us