Lake Austin Motorized Watercraft Ban In Effect For Fourth Of July

AUSTIN, TX — Police are alerting residents to the Lake Austin ban of all personal watercraft—jet skis, wet bikes, motorized surfboards and similar devices—scheduled for the Fourth of July period of celebration.

Watercraft is prohibited at the lake beginning at sunset on Monday, July 3, until Wednesday, July 5 at sunrise, according to police. Non-motorized devices—kayaks, canoes, paddleboards and the like—can be used during the same period of time.

Ban on motorized craft have become an annual prohibition given the bolstered numbers of people to the lake. In short, the summer throngs are such that it makes use of the motorized devices too dangerous.

"The annual ban of personal watercraft is necessary to ensure the safety of the large number of people that make use of the lake and parks over the July 4th holiday weekend," police said in a news advisory. "This ban only applies to Lake Austin."

To monitor compliance, police will be patrolling Lake Austin this weekend while urging people using waterways to follow the Texas Water Safety Act and City of Austin boating laws and ordinances, officials said. Police urge all boaters to practice safe boating and to call 9-1-1 for all reckless operation of boats or emergencies.

'The Austin Parks and Recreation Department and the Austin Police Department want the public to enjoy the parks and lakes but urge people to make this a safe holiday," police said.

For more information, contact the APD Lake Patrol Unit at 512-329-8841.

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