Posted: Sat, 29 Jan 2011 10:40 AM - 14,302 Readers

By: Jessica Vess

A massive clean up at Lake Austin continues Friday morning.

The Lower Colorado River Authority, LCRA, lowered lake levels in early January in an effort to manage vegetation growing in the lake.

The levels are lowered about once every three years. With levels lowered, debris that collected along the banks and the lake floor becomes visible. The city is launching a cleanup mission to clear out the trash.

Austin police officers stretched across the 21 miles of lakeline on Thursday to begin the clean up. They carried buckets and trashbags and picked up everything from tires to clothing and electronics.

Park police, city support staff and community volunteers joined the officers.

Air One flew overhead, snapping photos of the lake and the large debris that collected along the shores.

Later a barge will pick up the heavier debris.

The clean up continues at until 3:00 p.m.