A jet ski slammed into a boat on Lake Austin in a recent crash that injured a child, and the fallout has reignited a fight over how the city polices personal watercraft on one of its most crowded waterways. Austin City Council Member Marc Duchen said children were nearly killed in the collision, and his office has since reached out to police for more information as residents demand tougher, longer-lasting restrictions.
The crash, first detailed by KXAN Austin, has prompted a new petition calling for jet skis to be banned outright on Lake Austin. The Change.org petition, titled “Keep Lake Austin Safe: Prohibit Personal Watercraft (Jet Skis),” launched in August and asks city officials to expand the current holiday-only restrictions into a year-round ban or, at minimum, a prohibition covering every summer weekend.
Right now, the law only reaches so far. Under City of Austin Ordinance 8-5-81, personal watercraft — jet skis, wet bikes, and motorized surfboards — are banned on Lake Austin only during three holiday windows each year: Memorial Day weekend, Independence Day from sunset July 3 to sunrise July 5, and Labor Day weekend. This year's Labor Day ban remains in effect until sunrise Tuesday. Kayaks, canoes, and paddleboards are allowed on the lake even during those ban periods.
A Single Boat Covering Nearly 30 Miles
Austin resident Kim Chappel said additional regulations may be needed as Lake Austin becomes more crowded, and that she believes a tragedy may be imminent given current conditions on the water. Lake Austin residents have reported increasing numbers of boats and watercraft on the lake, and Chappel said crowded conditions are especially worrying for families with children, adding that she considers every weekend on the lake dangerous because it is more packed than it has ever been.
Labor Day weekend is one of the busiest times of year on Austin's lakes, yet the enforcement resources on the water haven't kept pace, according to Duchen's office. The Austin Police Department's Lake Patrol unit runs just one patrol boat on weekends to cover nearly 30 miles of shoreline across Lake Austin and Lady Bird Lake, and Duchen's office described the unit as understaffed. Chappel also said no one is currently responsible for enforcing limits on rental jet skis and rental boats, and Duchen's office said businesses are renting personal watercraft to unlicensed riders.
What The Law Actually Requires
Texas law requires anyone born on or after September 1, 1993, to complete a state-approved boater education course and carry certification before operating a jet ski or any motorized vessel with an engine over 15 horsepower, according to Duchen's office. Statewide, Texas Parks & Wildlife Department rules also require an uncertified rider to be accompanied aboard by an authorized adult at least 18 years old. Operating a personal watercraft without required certification, or violating other operational rules, can bring fines, and failing to complete a court-ordered boater safety course within 90 days escalates the offense to a Parks and Wildlife Code Class A misdemeanor.
State law also bars personal watercraft from operating on public waterways between sunset and sunrise year-round, regardless of any local holiday ordinance, per the same agency's rules aimed at cutting down on low-visibility collisions. Statewide data shows alcohol remains the leading known factor in recreational boating fatalities, and 85 percent of fatal boating accident victims who drowned in Texas waters were not wearing a life jacket. During the Fourth of July weekend this year, Texas Game Wardens filed 62 Boating While Intoxicated charges statewide as part of Operation Dry Water, the highest holiday BWI arrest total the agency has recorded since 2019.
City Says the Issue Is 'On the Radar'
Duchen said Lake Austin safety concerns are on the city's radar, and his office said the Austin Police Department is working with the city's legal department to explore expanding the law banning jet skis during certain hours and holidays. His office said it plans to keep working with law enforcement and residents on the issue going forward. The Austin Police Department had not responded to KXAN's request for additional information about weekend enforcement and available resources.
Complicating any quick fix is the patchwork of agencies with a stake in the 1,600-acre reservoir. Lake Austin sits on the Colorado River under shared oversight by the Lower Colorado River Authority for water levels and dock permits, alongside the City of Austin and Travis County for local ordinances and land use — a multi-jurisdictional setup that can leave gaps between city police, county sheriffs, and state game wardens. Separately, the city also restricts watercraft noise on the lake, making it a Class C misdemeanor to run sound equipment audible or causing vibrations 100 feet away.
Fall Drawdown Will Reshape Lake Traffic
Any policy debate will soon collide with a temporary change to the lake itself. The City of Austin has scheduled a six-week drawdown of Lake Austin from October 12 through November 30, lowering water levels by roughly 10 feet so shoreline property owners can perform dock repairs and address hydrilla growth. Council members Duchen and Paige Ellis have questioned city staff about permit timelines and impacts on waterfront businesses during the drawdown, according to Austin City Council records.
Hoodline has previously reported on the city's enforcement of the holiday-only jet ski ban, including Memorial Day patrol efforts and the department's Fourth of July enforcement push. For now, the three-weekend ban remains the only citywide restriction on the books, even as residents and at least one council member signal that current rules may not be enough to keep the lake safe.
