LCRA says keep safety first on the Highland Lakes
LCRA reminds visitors that current lower lake levels can create special hazards
MAY 20, 2025
AUSTIN, Texas – The Lower Colorado River Authority has one word for people planning to visit the Highland Lakes over the busy Memorial Day weekend: safety.
“Safety should be your top concern any time you are at the lakes, but especially over the busy Memorial Day weekend,” said Damon Derr, chief of LCRA Public Safety. “We’re expecting warm weather and that means we could see big crowds of boaters and swimmers out for some fun. We want you to have fun, but more importantly, we want you to be safe.”
Lakes Buchanan and Travis, the two water supply reservoirs in the Highland Lakes, are significantly below full because of the ongoing drought, which means underwater hazards such as trees or drop-offs may pose more of an immediate risk to swimmers and boaters.
“Every lake level has hazards,” Derr said. “During droughts, the surface area of lakes Buchanan and Travis is smaller, so boaters and swimmers will be closer together than when lake levels are higher. Boats may run aground more easily or encounter swimmers in areas a little further from the shore. We want everyone to be aware of the current lake conditions and to take precautions to stay safe.”
Through its Be LakeWise water safety campaign, LCRA works year-round to share water safety tips and encourage safe practices such as wearing a life jacket, watching out for hidden hazards and never swimming or boating alone.
Derr said the No. 1 thing swimmers and boaters can do to stay safe is simple: Wear a life jacket.
“You’ve got currents and uneven lake bottoms, and it’s been proven time and again that wearing life jackets save lives,’’ he said. “State law requires children 13 and under to wear a life jacket on a moving boat, but the safest practice is for everyone on the water to wear a life jacket at all times.”
Derr said people recreating in other lakes and along the Colorado River should follow the same safety tips. Boaters should keep a safe distance away from other boats, as well as swimmers, boat docks and marinas.
“There are no brakes on a boat, and it can be difficult to stop your forward progress if you’re heading toward a dangerous area or if the current starts pushing you in a direction you don’t want to go,” he said. “You need to maintain your ability to steer the boat at all times.”
Nighttime boating poses other challenges.
“Even with navigation lights on, it can be hard to see other boaters or obstacles in the lake in the dark,” Derr said. “Going fast in a boat at night would be like going 70 miles an hour in a car with no lights at the same time other cars were going 70 in the same area. It’s not a smart thing to do.”
Derr noted that most boat ramps on Lake Travis are closed because of lower lake levels and encouraged boaters to confirm whether the ramp they plan to use is open before heading to the lake.
LCRA also recommends:
- Never swimming or boating alone and keeping an eye on everyone in your party. It only takes a few seconds for someone in the water to find themselves in trouble.
- Staying hydrated and knowing when to call it quits for the day.
- Swimming only in designated areas.
- Knowing the rules before visiting the Highland Lakes, including the Texas Water Safety Act and LCRA Land and Water Use Regulations.
More safety tips are available at www.lcra.org/belakewise.
About LCRA
The Lower Colorado River Authority serves customers and communities throughout Texas by managing the lower Colorado River; generating and transmitting electric power; providing a clean, reliable water supply; and offering outdoor adventures at more than 40 parks along the Colorado River from the Texas Hill Country to the Gulf Coast. LCRA and its employees are committed to fulfilling our mission to enhance the quality of life of the Texans we serve through water stewardship, energy and community service. LCRA was created by the Texas Legislature in 1934 and receives no state appropriations.
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