Hello Destiny,

Thank you for the reply.  I am aware of the information you provided. 

The ramp at Decker Lake is unusable during much of the year because it was never designed for the low water conditions we have experienced the last 4-5 years.  It is also generally in poor condition and has never been upgraded since it was constructed in 1967.   Last year was the first year Austin PARD closed it because of low water.  Prior to this it was launch at your own risk when the water got low.  In 2023 the ramp was closed for four months.  This is the lakes only public access for motorized boats.  As you likely know the ramp closed this year on October 17 again because of low water.  I have been in touch with Austin PARD (Charles Vaclavik, Operations and Maintenance Manager and Assistant Director Liana Kallivoka) since the closure began in 2023 about upgrading the ramp with a Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) Boat Ramp Grant which would pay for 75% of the renovations.  Unfortunately, it appears very little has happened in the one year since the 2023 closure began and we are again faced with a closure of the lakes only public access.  Charles recently told me PARD is committed to making improvements during the planned two-year closure for dam repairs so the ramp is accessible during low water conditions which we are surely to have again.  I was glad to hear that, but action(s) will speak louder than promises. I also find it somewhat ridiculous that Austin PARD can spend millions of dollars on Phase One construction in Walter Long Park as part of their Master Plan but cannot allocate any funding to fix a boat ramp that is unusable and closed during much of the year.  This ramp has had issues for decades because it was not designed correctly when it was built.

I want you to know that a petition I started last year calling for deepening the ramp has over 200 signatures.  It is available to view here:  Petition · Deepening the boat ramp at Decker Lake - United States · Change.org

I also would like to point out that TPWD potentially has money available (from the Bass License Plate) to build a temporary ramp during the anticipated 2-year ramp closure planned for dam renovations.  This could potentially keep motorized boat access open during the drawdown.  It seems there was no discussion of keeping access available as Austin Energy was planning dam repairs which must have been in the works for years.  I and others think a temporary ramp should at least be discussed, especially one where COA would be out no or very little money.  As far as I know a two-year shutdown of a lakes only access to motorized boats, without any consideration/accommodations to maintaining public access is unprecedented.  

Decker Lake is a very popular fishery for Austin residents and residents of surrounding communities.  There is strong public interest in getting the Decker Lake boat ramp permanently fixed.  There is also strong interest in at least discussing a temporary ramp during the two year dam renovations planned by Austin Energy.  Please forward this on to those decision makers at the City of Austin who can look at the situation there and help move ramp renovations forward.

Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,

Steve Magnelia