Posted: Mon, 11 May 2015 08:31 PM - 39,364 Readers

By: Sophia Beausoleil

The recent rains have benefited Lake Travis, meaning people may soon be able to launch their boats off of public access ramps. Specifically, Tournament Point Ramp at Pace Bend Park.

“All this rain means hopefully we’ll be able to open up our first boat ramp in several years and get people back enjoying Lake Travis,” said Dan Perry, district park manager for Travis County Parks. With Monday’s heavy rains and more wet weather in the forecast, Perry said they are getting closer to possibly opening the ramp. “The toe of [the low water ramp] is now in the water and when the water comes up another six inches, we’ll be ready to open it up to the public and this will be the first public paved ramp on Lake Travis.”

The county installed the low water ramp at Pace Bend Park in 2014.  After it was completed, Perry said there was a storm last June which brought the lake levels up a few feet, but water levels dipped back down a couple weeks later and the ramp was closed for the rest of summer.

“It was such a thrill for everybody that we have another way to launch and then the water level dropped and we couldn’t use it all last summer,” said Curtis Corbitt who lives in the area and owns a boat. As a water sports enthusiast, Corbitt said he has checked the ramp every day hoping for good news. “I’ve been watching the water level creep back up knowing that 630 was the number we were looking for, and so we’ve been coming and talking with the park people.”

The water level has to be at least 630 feet above sea level for officials to open the Pace Bend Park boat ramp. As of Monday, Lake Travis was at 630.17 feet above seal level, according to the Lower Colorado River Authority’s website.  Perry said they want the lake to come up about six more inches before opening it.

“Well I understand that you’ve got to make a call and that there’s people who know what to do,” said Corbitt. “We would like to be able to get the boat in the water, we’re just anxious to do that. It’s a little frustrating, but there’s really not a lot I can do except just plead for rain.”

Years ago, Corbitt said he could launch his boat from his house, but his dock now sits in the middle of rocks and brush ever since the cove dried up.

To launch a boat on Lake Travis right now, people must have access to a private ramp, a boat in the slip, or off the shore lines in some parks. With the recent rains, Perry said the topography can be challenging and dangerous.

The Mansfield Dam boat ramp requires 632 in feet above mean sea level and is not there yet.