Low lake levels worry boaters, swimmers

AUSTIN (KXAN) - With lake levels the way they are, businesses are losing their namesake.

Fall Creek Vineyards is known for the falls down the shore. But, because of the shallow water, you can only see that attraction in photos now. The steady stream of boaters and swimmers once trickling into the vineyard after their day on the lake has all but dried up.

"Thank goodness the experience in the tasting room is independent from the lake leve," said Bill Rives, Fall Creek Vineyards.

With these water levels, some of the old rules of water safety just don't apply. Instead, you have to worry about things like how and even where to get into the water. Half of the boat ramps are closed because they no longer reach the shore.

"If you look right over here, you can see by the water, where it used to be," said Thomas Fletcher, a camper. "It doesn't really affect my plans. It just looks like I'll have to walk an extra 100 feet out there to the water. No big deal."

One bright point on a bleak Buchanan is the bacteria level.  A few summers ago, two swimmers died after contracting bacterial meningitis at Lake LBJ downstream. But the Lower Colorado River Authority said that was directly after a flood.

Bacteria typically stick around for about 10 days after rain wipes the land clean and into the lake. Since rain has been absent from this lake area lately, the water quality is at its healthiest.

"So, we've got room for everybody, and sometimes it is true, the more the merrier," said Rives.

Area businesses and visitors alike can hold onto that good news. Anything to bring people back to Buchanan, despite the dry days ahead.