AUSTIN, Texas (KEYE) — The City of Austin has canceled the planned Lake Austin drawdown that was scheduled for October and November.
The drawdown was expected to lower the lake by 10 feet from Oct. 12 through Nov. 30 and would have been the first drawdown in nine years.
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City and Lower Colorado River Authority officials organized the project to allow for repairs, maintenance and clean-up along the waterfront. However, several business owners who depend on Lake Austin voiced strong concerns about the timing, saying it would disrupt essential income and jobs during a busy season.
“City staff will continue evaluating economic, operational, environmental and community considerations associated with potential future drawdowns, and we will remain engaged with LCRA and Lake Austin stakeholders as future opportunities are considered,” Assistant City Manager Mike Rogers said in a statement.
At a recent Austin City Council meeting, business owners testified about the impact they expected from the drawdown. Ken Leonard, co-owner and partner at Mozart’s Coffee Roasters, said, “Between all of the businesses based out of Oyster Landing—Hula Hut, Quince, Moreland Properties, Lake Austin Calm, Austin Rental Boats, Mozart’s, the marina itself—the combined job loss is 200 jobs. The economic impact for just those six weeks is $2.5 million.”