LCRA  has taken the first steps to enable Colorado River Watch Network (CRWN) volunteers to test for toxins; something previously impossible due to the lack of test strips. Companies such as Eurofins Scientific simply did not manufacture test strips for the cyanotoxins found in the Highland Lakes, so water or algae samples had to be sent away to either the University of Texas or commercial laboratories for tests costing up to $800 each. Thea Frederickson, our local LCRA biologist, has now obtained test strips for Cylindrospermin (CYN) and is working with Susan Meckel of CRWN to produce a video and training course for volunteers, to ensure that volunteers can use them properly and LCRA can trust the results. 

 

Although CYN has not as yet been detected at Travis Landing, it was found in blue-green algae at Lady Bird Lake and Barton Creek in September 2021 and biologists believe it is probably already present here. Originally discovered in Queensland, Australia, CYN is toxic to liver and kidney tissues, generally causing gastroenteritis as it did with people and dogs who ingested it around Red Bud Isle. 

 

LCRA has not said whether CYN test strips will be followed by others for Dihydroanatoxin-a, the cyanotoxin found here in 2021, or Homoanatoxin-a, found in other Austin waterways, both of which are neurotoxins and can be lethal for dogs. However, the fact that LCRA is investing in test strips and training is an important step forward in helping to keep our community safe from toxins along the shoreline, especially while lake levels are so low. 

 

Here is the latest summary of Travis Landing results collected by John Anderson for the CRWN. All of the test results for January are within range except for dissolved oxygen which has dropped still further to only 3 mg/L. To see historic data going back to May 2021, go to the LCRA Site List and the entry for Site 463 (Travis Landing), located in segment 1404.  

 

 

 

Despite accelerated growth of hydrilla and various types of algae, the water quality remains good in the area of the old boat ramp; this being the only area tested. The pH balance and levels of dissolved oxygen have changed very little since August, which is bad news in the latter case because it puts fish and other aquatic life in jeopardy. LCRA came out on December 2 to take samples of both lake water and algae, following the deaths of two deer showing no obvious signs of trauma. While we were waiting for the results of the tests, a large female beaver was also found dead on the shore of a home on Rainbow One.

 

When the test results finally came back on Thursday 15th they showed no traces of toxins, however, so the cause of the various deaths is still a mystery. LCRA’s deep water tests in November did not detect toxins either. At some stage in the future, we will no longer be dependent on LCRA for toxin testing but should be able to conduct testing ourselves. LCRA is currently working with the Colorado River Watch Network to obtain test strips for dihydroanatoxin-a, the cyanotoxin that caused dog deaths and illnesses two years ago. The strips will then be provided to volunteers, hopefully free of charge, as with the training, equipment and chemicals we have already received.

 

Here is the latest summary of Travis Landing results collected by John Anderson for the Colorado River Watch Network. To see historic data going back to May 2021, go to the LCRA Site List and the entry for Site 463 (Travis Landing), located in segment 1404. 

 

 

Overall water quality in Lake Travis remains good around the area of the old boat ramp at Travis Landing; the only place currently being tested by John Anderson on behalf of the Colorado River Watch Network. LCRA has not been able to test for toxins for the second month running so toxicity levels remain unknown. In July, the drop in lake levels prevented biologists from collecting the SPATT test bag left at Arkansas Bend Park and there are no results for August because of an outbreak of Covid in the LCRA laboratory. John did report the current outbreak of hydrilla to LCRA.

 

There is no guaranteed safe place for dogs to swim, in fact LCRA still advises keeping dogs out of the Highland Lakes altogether. However, it is possible to avoid most of the algae around Travis Landing by swimming in the areas around and between our boat ramps where the water is deepest and the shore falls off sharply. Hydrilla and other types of algae have taken over the shallow water along the peninsula and around the point. Don’t forget to rinse off dogs after swimming with clean water from the hose at the gate. Please also pick up after your pet because anything left on the shoreline will become food for algae once lake levels rise. There are Dogipot bags in a dispenser beside the gate, in front of the hose.

 

Blue-green algae produces cyanotoxins and should be avoided:

 

Here is the latest summary of Travis Landing results collected by John Anderson for the Colorado River Watch Network. To see historic data going back to May 2021, go to the LCRA Site List and the entry for Site 463 (Travis Landing), located in segment 1404. 

 

 

No toxins were detected in Lake Travis during June. Lake levels have now dropped too low for LCRA to retrieve the SPATT test bag left at Arkansas Bend Park, so there are no results for July. John Anderson’s testing continues to indicate that overall water quality is good around our high water boat ramp. No water samples have been taken at the emerging low-water boat ramp, however, or around the peninsula which is currently suffering from an abundant growth growth of hydrilla.

 

Hydrilla or “water thyme” (Hydrilla verticillata) is an aquatic weed from Asia with stems that can grow up to 25 feet in length. It is one of the most difficult aquatic invasive plants to control and can have severe consequences for aquatic ecosystems. Our LCRA biologist says hydrilla on its own is not dangerous in terms of toxins, although some studies have linked it to blue-green algae.

 

The safest places for dogs to swim is where the water gets deep quickly, rather than having to wade through the algae and hydrilla in shallower water. LCRA still advises caution and rinsing off with clean water after a swim for both people and pets.

 

Hydrilla growing in Travis Landing

 

Here is the latest summary of Travis Landing results collected by John Anderson for the Colorado River Watch Network. To see historic data going back to May 2021, click on LCRA Site List and the entry for Site 463 (Travis Landing), located in segment 1404.

 

 

 

 

As the lake level falls, our peninsula grows and, unfortunately,  so does the algae surrounding it. LCRA has not detected any toxins in the SPATT bags located offshore around Lake Travis but advises caution in shallow areas with algal growth. Dogs are safest swimming in deeper water but even so, owners should rinse them off with fresh water afterwards. LCRA has no plans to test algae for toxins and John Anderson is unable to carry this out because there are no test strips available for dihydroanatoxin-a, the cyanotoxin most often found along our shoreline.

 

Here is the latest summary of Travis Landing results collected by John for the Colorado River Watch Network. To see historic data going back to May 2021, go to the LCRA Site List  and the entry for Site 463 (Travis Landing), located in segment 1404.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Lake conditions are looking good this month! The water at Travis Landing is clear and dissolved oxygen levels have improved dramatically since the last tests in May, up from 4 milligrams per liter to 7.5 milligrams per liter. LCRA reports that none of the SPATT bags, including the one nearest to us at Arkansas Bend Park, have shown any traces of cyanotoxins over the past month. However, our LCRA biologist still advises watching out for patches of algae along the shore and in shallow water. Historically, warm water triggers algae growth and the production of toxins.

 

Here is a summary of the most recent Travis Landing results collected by John Anderson for the Colorado River Watch Network. To see historic data going back to May 2021, go to the LCRA Site List and the entry for Site 463 (Travis Landing), located in segment 1404.

 

 

 

Although water quality continues to be good in Travis Landing and no toxins were detected in Highland Lakes  SPATT bags  over the past month, LCRA warns that this does not mean that there are no toxins present. There are insufficient resources to test individual algae samples so LCRA still advises keeping dogs away from algae since that is most likely to be contaminated.

 

The City of Austin takes the same view. Last year the City of Austin produced trial dashboards for public use, showing algae testing results, water temperature and flow and nutrient levels in Lady Bird Lake and Lake Austin:

 

 

Unfortunately, the project stalled because some users were being misled by out-of-date or missing information. People were assuming that water was safe when it was not or had not been tested recently. LCRA is monitoring progress on the City’s dashboards and, once the issue has been resolved, may use a similar format to post water safety information for the other lakes.

 

Here is a summary of the most recent Travis Landing results collected by John Anderson and LCRA. To see historic data going back to May 2021, go to the LCRA Site List and see the entry for Site 463 (Travis Landing), located in segment 1404.

 

 

 

Overall lake water quality continues to be good and the LCRA reports that no toxins were detected in the SPATT bags deployed in March. The level of dissolved oxygen in Travis Landing water samples have dropped considerably, however, from 7.7 milligrams per Liter on February 28 to 5.25 mg/L on March 30th. One possible reason could be warmer water and there is no danger to fish unless it drops below 5 mg/L.

 

The large patch of algae to the right of the boat ramp is now turning brown, dying off in the sun. As the weather warms up, LCRA expects to see more algae (good and bad) growing along the shoreline so the advice from our local LCRA biologist is still to avoid contact with that area. If your dog treads in any algae, please be sure to rinse off their paws under the fresh water hose at the park gate to be safe.

 

Here is a summary of the most recent Travis Landing results collected by John Anderson and LCRA. To see historic data going back to May 2021, go to the LCRA Site List and see the entry for Site 463 (Travis Landing), located in segment 1404.

 

 

 

The patch of algae to the east of the boat ramp continues to expand but LCRA does not intend to conduct any more tests for now, even though low levels of dihydroanatoxin-a and two other toxins were detected there earlier this month. LCRA does not have the resources to conduct single water samples all over Lake Travis hence the preference for SPATT bags to monitor toxin levels over a longer period of time. Unfortunately, there are no test strips for dihydroanatoxin-a so we can’t do the testing ourselves.

 

 

On a more positive note, LCRA is working closely with the City of Austin to research possible ways to treat toxic algae and has been following the Red Bud Isle experiments that started back in June of last year. The Watershed Protection department spent $300,000 on three treatments of Phoslock, a grey clay-like material that binds phosphorus in surface water and sediment, to see if it could reduce nutrient levels and the amount and/or toxicity of blue-green algae. The pilot area of about 20 acres of Lady Bird Lake also received 50 biochar units (which work rather like Brita water filters) in a separate experiment.

 

While the results of the pilot program have not yet been announced, a person familiar with the projects said that both show promise for small bodies of water that experience planktonic blooms. Less is known about the effectiveness on benthic blooms such as those occurring in Lake Travis. The sheer size of Lake Travis would make these types of treatments very expensive in any case. Studies have also shown that while biochar and Phoslock can bind up nutrients in the water column, the subsequent die off of algae results in more toxins being released as cell death occurs.

 

At this time, LCRA has no intention of using Biochar or Phoslock in the Highland Lakes. Binding up excess nutrients in small areas may make sense in privately owned ponds and bodies of water, but more information is needed to understand how it would impact the lake ecosystem at large. There are important, non-harmful algae and plant species that rely on nutrients to provide food for all the organisms in the lake.

 

For more information about the experiments click on the following link: Harmful Algae Mitigation | AustinTexas.gov

 

Here is a summary of the most recent Travis Landing results collected by John Anderson and LCRA. To see historic data going back to May 2021, go to the LCRA Site List and see the entry for Site 463 (Travis Landing), located in segment 1404.

 

 

 

 

Although general water quality has continued to improve, LCRA detected low levels of dihydroanatoxin-a and two other toxins in tests conducted on February 2nd and 7th, before and after the recent freeze. Samples were collected because significant quantities of algae are growing on the shore about 100 feet east of the boat ramp, towards the west side of the peninsula. The algae are green and not the blue-green type previously believed to produce toxic algae blooms but dead birds and fish have been found along the shoreline and one dog suffered seizures after swimming by the boat ramp.

 

The level of dihydroanatoxin-a is much lower than last year: only 0.38 nanograms per milliliter compared to 5.67 nanograms per milliliter in February 2021. The other toxins found, Saxitoxin and either Microcystin or Nodularin (the test doesn’t distinguish between the two), were not present last year and are not the same as the new strains found on Red Bud Isle in September. None of the toxin levels exceeds the threshold guidelines for recreation but safety also depends on the amount of water or algae ingested. The owner of the dog that suffered seizures is completing an illness report for LCRA to check if symptoms are consistent with each of the toxins.

 

 

Here is a summary of the most recent Travis Landing results collected by John Anderson. To see historic data going back to May 2021, go to the LCRA Site List and see the entry for Site 463 (Travis Landing), located in segment 1404.