Posted: Thu, 29 Sep 2011 04:50 PM - 14,922 Readers

By: David Scott

When the when water level in Lake Travis drops, the economic outlook for lake-dependent businesses drops along with it.

That's the finding of a yearlong study commissioned by merchants around the lake.

"We looked at some hypotheticals, and we did a 50 percent drop in visitation," said Todd LaRue, an analyst who helped with the study. "That suggests a $33 million impact and almost 600 jobs. Could it be worse than that? It could be worse than that."

When Lake Travis is full it stands at 681 feet above sea level, but now it's only 629 feet.

Boaters alone generate $40 million a year, and the 11 parks on Travis bring in $38 million more. Those parks may be open, but all the boat ramps are closed, out of the water. The math is not pretty.

Businessman Beau Therioux has watched the ups and downs of Lake Travis for 33 years as the owner of the Oasis . He has survived droughts, and a fire that heavily damaged his restaurant.

"We're so lucky to be here." he said. "But it hurts because so many people are not able to enjoy their boating activity and they just don't come out to the lake as much."

Pete Clark, the owner of Just for Fun watercraft rentals,the Café Bleu and Carlos 'N Charlie's restaurants, said his business is down 25 percent.

"It's pretty bad, and it's hampered by the fact we just went through this 18 months ago," Clark said. "The combination effect of having a mediocre year in between didn't give us much of a rebound."