The recent heavy rainfall over the long July Fourth weekend wreaked havoc throughout the Hill Country, leading to tragic loss of life and extensive damage to homes.
Along with the destruction, the floodwaters have saturated the Central Texas region, causing contamination and debris to flow through local creeks and waterways.
Officials in the Austin area are now warning about the serious environmental implications of these floods, with full assessments likely taking weeks to complete.
Ryan Hebrink, with Austin Watershed Protection, emphasized the dangers posed by stormwater runoff, pointing out that even smaller rain events can carry high levels of bacteria and pollutants into local creeks.
“Best safety practice is to stay out of the water for several days after rainfall,” Hebrink stated.
Fortunately for Austin, Hebrink noted that the flooding was less severe within the city’s limits compared to other regions.
He remarked, “We have not seen a spike in spills or other reports, as many folks were probably hunkered down during the wet weather.”
However, he anticipates an increase in reports of spills as residents venture out to assess damage in the coming days.
In light of the flooding, the city of Austin has enacted watercraft bans on Bull Creek, Barton Creek, and parts of the Colorado River, including Lady Bird Lake, prohibiting both personal and commercial use until Tuesday afternoon.
The recent heavy rains also pose another problem: an impending mosquito population boom, given the abundance of standing water.
Marcel Elizondo, chief of Austin Public Health’s environmental health services division, warned that this surge could increase the risk of mosquito-borne diseases in the community.
In 2024, preliminary data revealed 33 cases of West Nile virus, which included two fatalities in Travis County.
To combat this, Austin Public Health is urging residents to eliminate standing water in their yards and neighborhoods to hinder the spread of infections, which can include diseases like Zika, West Nile, dengue fever, encephalitis, and even canine heartworm.
For more information, residents can access additional tips and resources on the city’s official website.
While there are concerns about health and safety due to the flooding, current risks related to drinking water appear to be minimal.
In Georgetown, certain neighborhoods were placed under a boil water notice following a water main break, which officials believe was likely connected to flooding conditions in the area.
In Austin, however, the city’s water utility has reported that they foresee no risks to their water treatment and distribution operations as a result of the flooding events.
Looking back to 2018, a significant flooding event upstream resulted in a city-wide boil water notice due to excessive runoff entering Austin’s water treatment system.
This time, floodgates have primarily remained closed, which has helped avoid contamination issues as water has been retained in depleted reservoirs.
Charles Celauro, assistant director of engineering services for Austin Water, explained, “Unlike the 2018 flood event when floodwaters were released downstream, the floodgates at Lake Travis remained closed during the recent weather event.
This retention is expected to promote settling and help mitigate turbidity concerns.”
Since the 2018 event, Austin Water has also improved its treatment processes to more effectively remove suspended solids from the water.
As a consequence of the heavy rains, the reservoirs of Lake Travis and Lake Buchanan—critical water supply sources for Austin and surrounding areas—have seen significant replenishment.
These reservoirs had been at about half capacity at the beginning of spring, prompting enhanced drought restrictions from the Lower Colorado River Authority, which manages the Highland Lakes.
Thanks to the historical rainfall, these reservoirs are now over 70% full and continue to rise.
Reportedly, Lake Travis rose by 20 feet between July 3 and July 7, and it could see further increases in the coming days.
Clara Tuma, a Public Information Officer for the LCRA, cautioned that as the situation remains dynamic, projections could change if additional rain occurs.
While this influx of water may alleviate some immediate fears of water scarcity, it also creates similar health and safety risks associated with rising floodwaters.
To safeguard public health, the LCRA strongly advises residents to steer clear of lakes Buchanan, Inks, LBJ, Marble Falls, and Travis for the next several days due to fast flows, flood debris, and potential contact with bacteria.
Further updates will be provided via social media and the LCRA’s website regarding when such advisories are lifted.
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