Boat ramps at Lake Walter E. Long closed until further notice as crews prep for Decker Dam upgrades
AUSTIN (KXAN) — All boat ramps on Lake Walter E. Long , also known as Decker Lake, are closed for the foreseeable future.
The Austin Parks and Recreation Department, or PARD, sent out a notice of the closures on Thursday. PARD said lake access is still available for shore-launched watercraft such as canoes and kayaks, and all other park amenities, including volleyball courts, picnic sites, grills, and walking trails, will remain available.
PARD said the water levels at the lake are too low for boaters to safely enter and exit the lake right now, and levels are expected to keep gradually decreasing as PARD and Austin Energy get ready for equipment upgrades coming to Decker Dam.
The city's electric utility will replace the gates and anchors for the dam.
"Austin Energy works with Austin Parks and Recreation to manage water levels in the 1,200-acre lake. The City's electric utility uses the water in Decker Lake as part of its operations at the nearby Decker Power Plant. In preparation for upcoming equipment upgrades, the lake level will be gradually lowered through natural evaporation and the boat ramps will remain closed for the duration of the project," PARD said in the notice.
The project is expected to begin in early 2025 and last into the spring of 2026, according to the city of Austin's website .
The lake level will gradually lower to 550 feet, which will help protect the gates that are in place and will create better conditions for equipment upgrades, per the city.
The lake will be kept at that level until work on the dam allows the gates to support a higher lake level and weather conditions allow that level to increase.
The current dam and gates on Lake Walter E. Long were designed and installed in 1967.
Nearly 60 years later, the city is working to improve and upgrade the equipment, bringing it up to current regulations and specifications, increasing safety, and protecting a "local gem" for the future, the city's website reads.
More information on the repairs can be found online .
