Posted: Wed, 16 Sep 2009 03:08 PM - 10,049 Readers

By: Michael Freeman

After some areas of the county received more than five inches of rain last week, the Commissioners Court decided to lift the countywide burn ban Monday.

“I think we’ve had sufficient rainfall to warrant this,” said Wayne Brascom, Llano County Judge.

A rain gauge on Lake LBJ at the 2900 Bridge in Kingsland measured 5.96 inches during the four days of rain the area received. Llano received 4.6 inches.

The burn ban was instituted June 22 and was scheduled for either renewal or removal on Sept. 20. It prohibited open outdoor burning, such as brush piles and trash heaps.

“I think it’s time to remove it,” Brascom said. “You could almost see my grass grow over the weekend. I think we’re greened up before the fall, and that will probably allow the burn ban to not be in effect for some time.”

However, Brascom said if dry conditions across the county return with an increase in grass fires, the court would consider reinstating the burn ban.

The Burnet Commissioners Court also voted Tuesday to immediately lift the burn ban in Burnet County. The Burnet court will review burn ban conditions each Tuesday.

Despite the rain, mandatory water restrictions will not be lifted in Kingsland.

“Lake Buchanan and Lake Travis are still significantly low,” said Earl Foster, general manager of the Kingsland Water Supply Corp. “We’re not going to lift our restrictions.”

The Lower Colorado River Authority reported Tuesday that the lake level of Lake Buchanan at 989.88 feet above mean sea level, which is about 21.2 feet below its average level for September, while Lake Travis was about 34 feet below its average level for the month.

The city of Llano is still under voluntary water restrictions until the end of the month.