Lake Travis: Full for 4th of July Weekend!

Get ready for a full Lake Travis!

Early this morning, the Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA) settled an agreement with the Northern Atlantic Iceberg Authority (NAIA) for the purchase and transport of an iceberg to Lake Travis.

The iceberg selection team has located three possible candidates that are the right size and shape to make the trek from Greenland to Lake Travis. After final calculations on size and weight are determined, the lucky iceberg to land in LT will be announced.

Scheduled for the first week of May, the three-week journey will begin west of Greenland in Baffin Bay. The iceberg will be lassoed by large tow boats that will pull the massive ice cube through the ocean waters. They’ll head south along the East Coast of the United States, through the North Atlantic Ocean, down and around Florida through the Gulf of Mexico and up to Galveston.

The second half of the journey will be over land and take approximately three days to complete. Helicopters and pilots will be awaiting the arrival of the iceberg and preparations will begin for the airlift starting in the Gulf of Mexico. From there, it’s up and over Houston and away to the final destination — a drop in the main basin of Lake Travis on June 1st.

The weight of the iceberg and peak summer temps will begin the melting process, causing an instant rise in the water level of Lake Travis. This will result in below normal water temperatures for the month of July, but the timing should be perfect for the melting iceberg to fill up the lake and have 100% of the public boat ramps open by 4th of July weekend.

Win Win

The iceberg will be large enough not only to fill Lake Travis, but also allow extra water to be released downstream and sent to the rice farmers. The last time rice farmers received water from Lake Travis was back in 2011.

There has been talk about keeping the water level of Lake Travis at no more than 40% of capacity. This would allow the land on Sometimes Island to be developed into condos and apartments. Rent payments from the properties would create a steady stream of revenue for the LCRA.

But for now, the LCRA has decided to fill it up and make those islands disappear!

The Oasis will start taking reservations today, April 1st. It’s your chance to witness this extraordinary event (with a margarita in hand) from one of their decks overlooking the main basin of Lake Travis.

Keep your eyes in the sky during the month of May for the flying iceberg. And start making your plans for a 4th of July weekend spent on a full Lake Travis!

Flickr Creative Commons Image by weelibrarian