At the request of the City of Austin, LCRA will lower Lake Austin beginning Jan. 3, 2011, to help control nuisance plants in the lake and allow lakeside residents to build and maintain docks.

The 12-foot drawdown of the lake is expected to take approximately three weeks. LCRA can only release the amount of water necessary to meet water demands and environmental needs downstream unless surplus water, sufficient to refill Lake Austin, can be stored upstream in Lake Travis, the only floodwater reservoir in the Highland Lakes.

Without significant rain in the forecast, a slow drawdown is expected. However, if significant rains add sufficient water to the flood pool of Lake Travis prior to the beginning of the drawdown, that water could be used to refill Lake Austin and would allow a faster drawdown and more time at the lower level. LCRA officials will make this determination prior to the beginning of the drawdown. LCRA will begin refilling Lake Austin on Feb. 8 and complete the refill on Feb. 13.

LCRA has periodically lowered Lake Austin at the City of Austin’s request since the 1950s to help curb the growth of nuisance aquatic plants and to allow lakeside residents to perform construction and maintenance.

Lake drawdowns help control vegetation by exposing the plants to the air and killing off the leaves and stems by dehydration, providing temporary relief, particularly in the shallow areas where the plants are exposed. Since hydrilla, a fast-growing waterweed, was first discovered in Lake Austin in 1999, lowering the lake has been one component of an ongoing comprehensive plan to fight the non-native plant. In addition, the drawdown helps control Eurasian water milfoil, commonly known as duckweed, which has increased recently.

Lakeside residents should maintain awareness of the lake level and weather forecasts when performing work and take care to remove equipment and tools from the shoreline when not in use. LCRA officials emphasize that Lake Austin could be refilled quickly with little or no notice in the event of a flood or if LCRA is required to provide hydroelectric generating capacity in an emergency.

Residents planning work on lakeside structures should contact the following City of Austin offices:

• For exemptions for repairing old boat docks or removing sediment under docks -- Development Assistance Center, first floor, One Texas Center, 505 Barton Springs Road, Austin. (512) 974-6370;
• For rebuilding or building a new boat dock -- Intake section on the fourth floor of One Texas Center, 505 Barton Springs Road, Austin. (512) 974-2689. A small project site plan must be submitted.