Posted: Mon, 1 Jun 2015 07:54 PM - 38,967 Readers

By: Angie Beavin

The debris is starting to clear from Lake Travis, and boats and jet skis torn from docks are now finding their way back home. Still, bits and pieces are not where they are supposed to be.

“If it hadn’t have been for the wind, we’d be great,” said Chris Leach, VIP Marina manager. “The wind is what did the most damage to our marina.”

The rising levels have been a welcome sight to all, but recent storms also caused damage on the lake. Strong winds twisted and tore apart the walkways to the marina, even tearing up concrete. Metal posts were bent from the force of the wind.

As for the water levels, that’s a different story.

“The water’s the best thing that’s happened,” said Leach. “The fact that we can move our marina back in and we’re closer to shore, it’s more easily accessible to us.

“…That walkway for our shuttle boat, that was sitting on the ground, now it’s underwater,” said Leach, pointing to a dock in the water.

Mason Nichols, who docks a boat at the marina, could not believe how much the lake had risen.

“It used to be all cliffs in the back right here, and now it’s all underwater,” he said.

Nichols also predicted a busier summer on the lake.

“I think a lot of boat traffic is going to be on the water,” he added. “So, everyone needs to be safe, because that means more boats, more problems.”

Leach said an insurance assessor was heading out to the marina Monday to take a look at damage and loss. Only a few boats were damaged from the storms.

*  Story Contributed by: Angie Beavin