Posted: Mon, 25 Apr 2016 08:31 AM - 37,683 Readers

By: Roberto Villalpando

Austin fire officials have closed much of Lake Austin and a portion of Lady Bird Lake because of high waters and dangerous currents after a floodgates at Tom Miller Dam and Mansfield Dam were opened Monday morning.

Austin fire Chief Rhoda Mae Kerr issued an order to close:

• Lake Austin from Walsh Landing to Tom Miller Dam
• Lady Bird Lake from Tom Miller Dam to Red Bud Trail

The Lower Colorado River Authority, which manages the Highland Lakes, have opened one gate at Mansfield Dam on Lake Travis and one gate at Tom Miller Dam on Lake Austin.

Kerr has banned all commercial boating and any recreational use of the flood ban area. Watercraft in the ban area may be impounded, according to Kerr’s order.

The ban is in effect for the duration of gate operations, the order said.