Reminder: Motorized Watercraft Banned At Lake Austin During Memorial Day Weekend

AUSTIN, TX — If you're planning to head out to Lake Travis for some R&R over the Memorial Day weekend, you'll want to leave the motorized personal watercraft behind: Law enforcement officials have instituted a ban on the devices starting this Friday.

The Austin Police Department Parks and Lake Patrol Unit will prohibit the use and operation of personal watercraft, wet bikes, motorized surfboards and similar devices on Lake Austin beginning at sunset on Friday, May 26, and ending on Tuesday, May 30. Non-motorized devices such as kayaks, canoes and paddle boards will be allowed.

The ban has less to do with dangerous conditions at Lake Travis—which occurs after periods of stronger-than-normal rainfall resulting in higher water levels and debris accumulation—than it does with the throngs of people descending upon the place enhancing the risk of watercraft-caused injury, officials explained.

"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 Memorial Day Holiday Weekend," officials said. "This ban only applies to Lake Austin."

This is no abstract prohibition either, not a strong suggestion but a mandate. To that end, police will be patrolling Lake Austin this weekend and urge people using waterways to follow the Texas Water Safety Act and City of Austin boating laws and ordinances.

'Police urge all boaters to practice safe boating and to call 9-1-1 for all reckless operation of boats or emergencies," police said. "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."

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

For good measure, officials provided the local ordinance that allows them to institute the ban.

City Ordinance: 8-5-81 WATERCRAFT AND OTHER MOTORIZED CRAFT ON LAKE AUSTIN.

(A) A person may not use or possess a jet ski, wet bike, motorized surfboard, or similar device on Lake Austin:

• (1) from sunset on the Friday before Memorial Day until sunrise on the Tuesday after Memorial Day;
• (2) from sunset on the Friday before Labor Day until sunrise on the Tuesday after Labor Day; or
• (3) from sunset on July 3 until sunrise on July 5.

(B) A person operating a motorboat on Lake Austin shall stay on the right side of the lake, except when assisting a downed water skier.

(C) A person may not operate a watercraft on Lake Austin at a speed that is greater than reasonable and prudent under the existing circumstances. Source: 1992 Code Section 14-2-1; Ord. 031009-11; Ord. 031211-11.

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