Lake Austin Map
We need a map of Lake Austin. Recently I learned of the zone system which the Lake Patrol uses. However when I inquired about a map of such zones I was told there was no such map.
I’ve put together a Lake Austin Map.
enlarge image or pdf .
If such a map were adopted by the community it could be useful for a wide range of purposes. I have circulated this map to a short list of folks to to guage an initial response. So far the idea has been well received.
Ideally I would like to see both LCRA and the City of Austin host such a map on their websites and promote it as “an official Lake Austin Map” for use by the public, Emergency Services, etc., etc.
Please post your comments and suggestions for promotion below.
-Mike Makuch
June 2008 update:
The Lake Austin Advisory Panel has approved of the map and we submitted the suggestion to the City of Austin that they adopt such a map for public use. In the mean time I suggest we just use this map as is. Feel free to circulate and use it.
August 16th, 2007 4:30 pm
In response to the question “How long is Lake Austin” I received this response from an LCRA staff:
“I have a length of 20.6 miles based on our centerline for our hydraulic models. I usually use 21 miles to round it up or 108597 ft.” LCRA Senior Engineer
August 16th, 2007 4:42 pm
Mr. Makuch,
The Zone map looks great!
Please feel free to circulate it if you wish.
I would also like to thank you for your efforts. If you have anymore
questions or concerns please feel free to contact me.
Thanks again!!
Jeffery Joseph
Sergeant
City of Austin - Park Public Safety
Marine Enforcement Unit
August 16th, 2007 4:43 pm
Michael,
I took a look at it and it certainly jives with my location along zone 7.
This seems like an excellent effort!
Tony
August 16th, 2007 4:44 pm
I agree! Nice job.
Sincerely,
ERIC MORELAND
August 16th, 2007 4:45 pm
Great idea Mike. Thanks very much. What’s the next step? How can I help?
Sam
August 16th, 2007 4:46 pm
Michael - this is GREAT! I have always heard Lake Austin was 21 miles long and that Quinlan was about 4-4.5 miles from Mansfield. For what it is worth. The only other thing that I can think of that might be informative is to label the big inlet creeks like Bull Creek etc. Just as location markers. Just a thought and thanks so much for sharing. ty
Tracy
August 16th, 2007 5:42 pm
Great idea Tracy. Done.
August 17th, 2007 4:41 pm
Thanks very much for the map of Lake Austin. This will be a
helpful thing for all of us.
As to length of Lake Austin, I suspect that the length of the lake was fixed
by measuring the center of the bed of the Colorado River. This could easily
account for the extra mile. The old riverbed followed the outside of each
curve in the lake, whereas the center line of the lake is a shorter course.
I suggest the following sites be named on the map:
1. Tom Miller Dam;
2. Bee Creek;
3. Walsh Landing;
4. Bull Creek;
5. Mansfield Dam.
6.
You have done a very good job. Thank you so very much.
Dudley
August 18th, 2007 10:20 am
Mike,
Perhaps it would be a good idea to get a dock numbering system. My dock is/was 1828. Even numbers were on our side. Odd numbers across the lake. In case of an emergency it would be great to have some mechanism in place to id the location closer than the mile markers.
August 18th, 2007 11:08 am
Steve I agree, what happened to the dock numbering system? Isn’t that something that the COA would have to manage?
August 30th, 2007 8:42 am
Mike,
I love your idea of a zone map which would be accessible especially by emergency responders. Making dock numbers accessible is a good idea, too.
Peggy
August 30th, 2007 8:55 am
Great idea! Listserves could be created for each section, so residents could communicate about the happenings in their respective areas. For example, when somebody applies for a variance, neighbors w/in 300 feet get notified. Of course, neighbors across the lake never get wind of it. Just a thought.
Thanks,
Jim Kaighin
August 30th, 2007 9:28 am
Great idea. Thanks for putting this together.
I think that it would help more folks, though, if each zone was given a name that linked it to a distinctive feature, such as:
- Zone 1: Walsh Boat Landing
- Z5: Pennybaker Bridge/Loop 360
- Z9: Emma Long Park Downtstream
- Z10: Emma Long Park Upstream
- Z21: Mansfield Dam
August 30th, 2007 2:30 pm
Map looks great. This is almost as it was divided years ago when I did my first tour on the lake. I do agree that we need to go back to a dock numbering system as it will help greatly with being able to locate a caller/complainant on the lake versus a street address. again, great job on the map.
January 21st, 2008 12:01 pm
Checking status of this nice volunteer project.
Thanks for doing it. Has it been finalized or semi-formalized, or do we just adopt it and send it to our friends and neighbors?
January 21st, 2008 12:33 pm
Nothing formal has yet been done. Yes send it to your friends. I was thinking of bumper stickers, fliers. Perhaps the boat stores would allow them to be placed on their counter.
March 4th, 2008 7:23 am
The sooner the better. We should adopt either this map or one similar (if there are copyright issues). Definitely we should have the dock numbering system brought back and up to date. My numbers are still there and I’ve wondered if the boat police would know where to respond if given the number. Great job Mike.
June 3rd, 2008 10:35 am
Update: The (LCRA) Lake Austin Advisory Panel approved of the map and we submitted it to the City of Austin.
June 5th, 2008 5:05 am
this is great for being able to mark riding areas and sending to friends you are meeting on the water. And for letting someone know where you are when in distress.
June 5th, 2008 11:32 am
Great map, thanx! It may be getting too complicated for what you want (there could be a different version) but what about dots where the boat launches are. Also, what about the hazard markers that are in between zones 18 amd 19?
August 5th, 2008 10:31 am
I agree with all of the above. Friends, emergency, MLS, dock numbers
wth zones. Good job! I bet TCAD will use it as a tool to value properties.