This GIS feature class includes navigation control zones on lake surfaces in the City of Austin, Texas

Navigation Control Zones is part of the Austin City Code, Chapter 8-5 Waterway Access and Use:

§ 8-5-2 NAVIGATION CONTROL ZONES.

(A) Navigation control zones are established on Lake Austin, Town Lake, and Lake Long, including the creeks, sloughs, and coves appurtenant to the lakes. The navigation control zones and the regulations applicable in each zone are as follows:

(1) DANGER indicates a zone within which a person should use caution.

(2) FISHING ONLY indicates a zone in which a person may not use the water for a purpose other than fishing.

(3) KEEP OUT indicates a zone that a person may not enter.

(4) NO PROP BOATS indicates a zone in which a person may not operate a propeller-driven boat.

(5) NO SCUBA indicates a zone in which a person may not use a self-contained underwater breathing apparatus.

(6) NO SKIING indicates a zone in which a person may not use a watercraft to tow a person on water skis or a similar apparatus.

(7) NO SWIMMING indicates a zone in which a person may not enter the water, except in a watercraft or while skiing.

(8) SKIN DIVING ONLY indicates a zone in which a person may not use the water for a purpose other than skin diving.

(9) SKI ONLY indicates a zone in which a person may not enter the water or operate a watercraft except for the purpose of water skiing.

(10) SLOW - NO WAKE indicates a zone in which a person may not operate a watercraft at a speed that creates a foaming or churning wake that curls or breaks.

(B) The boundaries of the navigation control zones are depicted the “Navigation Control Zone Map” on file with the city clerk.

(1) Except as provided in Subsection (2), a navigation control zone boundary is formed by:

(a) a shoreline, dam, pier, or other structure to which it is adjacent;

(b) a perpendicular line from a shoreline, dam, pier, or structure to the nearest navigation buoy that marks the zone; or

(c) a straight line between adjacent navigation buoys that mark the zone.

(2) This paragraph applies to a navigation control zone that is indicated by a single navigation buoy or that has an unmarked boundary. The area immediately around a navigation buoy and from which the buoy can be read during daylight hours is included in the navigation control zone indicated by the buoy.

Source: 1992 Code Section 14-1-3; Ord. 031009-11; Ord. 031211-11.

Ordinance No. 20200206-012

An Ordinance creating slow-no wake navigational control zones on Lake Austin; and creating an offense.

Be it ordained by the City Council of the City of Austin:

Part 1. The council finds that:

(A) Lake Austin is a popular place of recreation for boaters, users of personal watercraft, swimmers, and other members of the public. As a result, Lake Austin is often crowded. This gives rise to the potential for dangerous conflicts and collisions between users.

(B) The area on Lake Austin under and around the Pennybacker Bridge, and the area immediately north of the Tom Miller Dam, near the Oyster Landing Marina and the Walsh Boat Landing, both create a particularly high risk for dangerous collisions on Lake Austin. These areas attract crowds on the lake, there are a number of boat rental vendors, and there are popular boat ramps and marinas.

(C) Restricting boat traffic on Lake Austin by creating SLOW - NO WAKE navigation control zones in these hazardous areas is necessary to protect public safety. Creating these navigation control zones in these areas will protect public safety by calming boat traffic. The navigation control zones will be marked by navigation buoys.

(D) Subsection (B) of City Code§ 8-5-2 (Navigation Control Zones) provides that the boundaries of the navigation control zones are depicted on the "Navigation Control Zone Map" on file with the City Clerk. Exhibit 1 depicts the newly created navigation control zones and will be filed with the City Clerk to be incorporated into the "Navigation Control Zone Map."

PART 2. The council enacts the following:

(A) SLOW - NO WAKE navigation control zones shall be established as shown on the map attached as Exhibit 1. A person operating a watercraft within the areas established as new SLOW - NO WAKE navigation control zones on Exhibit 1 shall comply with subsection (A)(l0) of City Code § 8-5-2 (Navigation Control Zones).

(B) A person commits an offense if the person does not comply with the regulations indicated by the navigation buoys marking the SLOW - NO WAKE navigation control zones.

PART 3. This ordinance takes effect on February 17, 2020.