The City of Austin lifted its waterways ban effective immediately on Monday, July 27, 2026, allowing recreational and commercial use to resume on Lady Bird Lake and the Colorado River south of Longhorn Dam. The ban, in place since July 17 and extended multiple times, ended after the Lower Colorado River Authority concluded floodgate operations at Tom Miller Dam and Austin Water ended similar operations at Longhorn Dam early that morning, returning waterways to more normal flow and safer conditions.
Personal and commercial watercraft such as kayaks, canoes, paddleboards, and motorized devices are now permitted again. Officials noted that some risks remain, including bacteria levels that can take at least three days after stormflow to normalize, and they urged people to avoid swimming in Lake Austin due to submerged hazards. Lady Bird Lake maintains a permanent swimming ban. The day before the lift, emergency responders performed a water rescue involving a family of five whose paddleboards and kayaks were swept away by strong currents just south of Longhorn Dam.
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