Posted: Wed, 22 May 2013 07:43 AM - 25,873 Readers

By: Ricardo Gandara - American-Statesman Staff

Boater Roger Weil liked the buzz at last Sunday’s grand opening of the Crosswater Yacht Club on Lake Travis. While the lake’s water level continues to fall to historical lows, he sees the new $7 million marina as a sign of better things to come.

“The lake is back,” he said. “It speaks to the resiliency of people. Aggressive investors see this is a long-term deal and that things will turn around.”

Lake Travis has been the hardest-hit recreation spot in Central Texas over three years of drought. The public boat ramps have been closed for much of that time, and they are closed now. The lake is at 39 percent of its capacity and expected to drop further before summer is over.

But lake-based businesses like Crosswater are still betting on heavy crowds over Memorial Day weekend and beyond, hoping that this will be the year people disregard the drought and head to the water.

“We have a perception problem of the lake,” said Doug Powell, the general manager at Emerald Point Marina. “Ramps are closed, and water is low, and there are hazardous areas on the lake. However, Lake Travis is still a functioning, very enjoyable lake. The river channel is still 100 feet deep in some places. Lake Travis is still 42 miles long.”

Powell also sees reason for optimism this spring, saying that boaters — those who lease slips on the lake — are out on the water earlier this year.

Other water recreation businesses in Central Texas report increased traffic, too.

The closure of public boat ramps on 42-mile-long Lake Travis — it was nearly 64 miles long before the drought — has steered more boaters to Lake Austin, where police expecting a Memorial Day crush have called in three extra officers for marine patrol duty over the weekend, increasing the force from six to nine.

Mark Flood, general manager of Lake Austin Marina, has narrowed his prediction down to one word: “Swamped.”