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PLTA eNews Aug 26, 2013 Lake Travis - Keep it clear, clean, safe
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19th Annual Lake Travis Underwater and Shoreline Cleanup - Sunday, Sept. 15th
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PLTA is happy to be a sponsor again this year.
This will be the 19th annual Lake Travis Underwater and Shoreline Cleanup, a community-wide event that rids Lake Travis of tons of debris and waste each year. The Lake Travis Underwater Cleanup is the BIGGEST scuba diving and shoreline cleanup in Texas.
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Zebra Mussels Threaten Texas Lakes
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"They are on the way" 
Zebra mussels have already found their way to lakes in 29 states, including Texas. It may only be a matter of time until they reach Lake Travis.
LCRA: "Why you don't want zebra mussels in your lake Zebra mussels are highly invasive freshwater mussels that can take over a lake and alter aquatic ecosystems. They negatively impact native fish and mussels and spoil beaches with their sharp shells. They also wreak havoc for boaters by damaging boat hulls, boating equipment and boat docks. Zebra mussels also can clog water intakes, drastically increasing maintenance costs for utilities." Information will be presented at the PLTA annual meeting and more can be found
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Subscribe to the LCRA Daily River Report | |
Want to really keep up with lake levels? Subscribe to the Daily River Report and get detailed information via email each day.
 | | Click on the image to reach the subscription page |
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Save the date - PLTA Annual Meeting Will Be Tuesday, Sept. 24th
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 | | Don't forget! |
All members and concerned lake citizens should plan to attend the general membership meeting of Protect Lake Travis Association on 9/24. We will send out more information on the agenda soon. You will be able to hear interesting speakers with updates on the drought forecast, current programs and issues regarding water quality, and invasive species threatening Lake Travis and the Highland Lakes. |
LCRA Revising Its Highland Lakes Watershed Ordinance (HLWO)
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LCRA's Highland Lakes Watershed Ordinance, which helps guard against non-point source pollution ("runoff") caused by development around the lakes, is undergoing a revision process. There is a public comment period until August 30th and a second comment period is expected (probably Sept. 15th-30th) after LCRA produces the "final" draft. PLTA has reviewed the proposed changes and has provided one comment, requesting that the public notification provisions for development and mining permit applications be expanded to ensure notification of nearby property owners. More...
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Residential Dock Owners Urged To Secure Docks Against Floods
| | LCRA's outreach program warns that flash floods do occur during drought
In 2012, a flash flood occurred on the Sandy Creek arm of Lake Travis, damaging many residential docks as well as a commercial marina. There is some interesting footage of the damage occurring within an LCRA video found HERE..Floods can happen anytime - for example, in 1952, during the infamous "drought of record", Lake Travis actually rose 50 feet in 24 hours.  | | LCRA video |
LCRA points out that many docks have been moved further and further ("chasing the water") and may not be properly secured or positioned against a rapid rise in water level. The LCRA website outlines the dock owners' responsibilities and provides a number of suggestions on anchoring and other details, with graphics. See their web page on dock safety HERE
A reminder about encapsulated foam
In 2004, LCRA adopted a standard requiring all foam flotation for Highland Lakes docks be encased to keep it from breaking apart. There was a 10-year "grace period" for exposed foam under existing docks - that grace period will run out as of February 18, 2014. More...
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Use of "Recycled Water" Expands
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 Marble Falls, Burnet and City of Austin increase the reuse treated effluent, reduce demand on Highland LakesPLTA, from its beginnings in the 1980s, has encouraged the reuse of treated wastewater effluent for landscape irrigation. The "recycled" or "reclaimed" water has far too high concentrations of phosphorous and nitrogen to be returned into our streams or lakes, but is very well suited for land-based irrigation. Further, every gallon of treated effluent used for productive irrigation is a gallon that does not have to be removed from the Highland Lakes or our aquifers.
City of Austin has made several announcements recently detailing the expansion of its "purple pipe" distribution system, delivering reclaimed water to an expanded area and to more customers (see THIS). But we were particularly pleased to see the City of Marble Falls expand its program to four of its city parks. They were helped financially by LCRA through a cost sharing program. More... |
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The Purpose of the Protect Lake Travis Association is to protect Lake Travis and its watershed from any events and conditions that could negatively affect water quality, wildlife, or the health and safety of area residents and recreational users, and also to protect the aesthetic natural beauty and recreational quality of the area.
Lake Travis --- it's worth protecting!
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