Posted: Fri, 15 Jul 2011 07:46 PM - 14,960 Readers

By: John A. Salazar

Plants and people aren’t the only ones hurting in this summer’s sweltering heat. Businesses are also feeling the effects from the extreme drought plaguing Central Texas.

Only one public boat ramp is left open on Lake Travis, and fewer boats on the water mean fewer dollars spent on the lake.

Friday, boater George Olson brought his wife all the way from Galveston, but he wasn’t expecting to see the lake so low.

"I figured there'd be no problem, coming down to any one of the boat ramps,” he said. "Wasn't for this ramp, there'd be no way I'd be in the water today, anyway."

Uncle Billy's restaurant overlooks the lake. General Manager Mo Wark said receipts are staying cool in the heat of the summer.

"The earlier it gets hot in the year, the less people want to come out," Wark said. "This great view helps us, but at the end of the day, I have no doubt severe heat and drought are hurting us.”

Lake Travis sits at 681 feet when it's full. Right now it’s at 643 feet, or 51 percent capacity. With no real rain forecast in the near future, those levels are expected to drop further.

However, the low levels aren’t going to stop Olson from having a good time one the water while he can.

"This weekend, I'm going to run as much of this river or lake as I can,” he said. “As much as the water will allow me."

There is also only one remaining public boat ramp open on Lake Buchanan. Click here to view the status of other boat ramps in the area.