Q: Can I land a seaplane on Lake Travis?

A: While there are no prohibitions against landing a seaplane on Lake Travis – one of the most popular recreational lakes in the state – it does raise safety concerns due to boating and recreation on the lake.

There is no designated area for landing your aircraft on Travis. The safest landing spot for you and for others already on the lake is on the main lake channel, not in a cove.

While your plane is on the lake, you must abide by all rules and regulations governing the use of watercraft on lakes.

LCRA’s Public Safety also recommends that you contact the Federal Aviation Administration. If in Austin, call the Flight Standards District Office in San Antonio at (210) 308-3300.

Q: We plan to build on a waterfront lot that is in the 100-year floodplain at Lake LBJ. What information should we give our builder to make sure we comply with floodplain regulations?

A: Check with your local city or county floodplain manager. Local governments – not LCRA – establish floodplain regulations for their communities. Find a list of local floodplain managers on the Texas Colorado River Floodplain Coalition’s Web site.

Any waterfront property is in a floodplain, which means that eventually it will be flooded, says Roy Sedwick, who coordinates floodplain issues for LCRA. “That’s true even for properties fronting the Highland Lakes, which in fact are reservoirs formed on the Colorado River and are subject to rapid rises if floodwaters flow into the basin.”

Q: Will LCRA ever reopen the walkway atop Mansfield Dam to the public?

A. There are no plans at this time to reopen the walkway for security reasons. The walkway originally was a two-lane highway that was part of RM 620 when Mansfield Dam was completed in 1941. People began using the old road for walking and cycling after a separate highway was built next to the dam in the 1990s. LCRA closed the walkway after the terrorist events of Sept. 11, 2001, in response to Homeland Security concerns.

Have a question about LCRA or its operations, facilities and programs? E-mail your question to ASKLCRA@lcra.org.