Baller lakeaustinskier Posted September 8, 2009 Baller Share Posted September 8, 2009  I’m new to this forum but I thought you’all might want to check out this video:   I had noticed somewhere in this forum (can’t remember) some pics of some of the lakes in our area that have been devastated due to the extreme drought in our area (Aquaplex Ski Lake, Austin Texas). I took this video two weeks ago when I was out there with my kids. Sorry about the video quality (was not intending to share it) but it’s pretty interesting to see what has happened to a place that has hosted the 2000 U.S. Open, numerous Barefoot Nationals and other large tournaments.  Currently the lake is almost dry except for a small area about 200 feet long, 10 feet wide and about 18 inches deep. The fins and other movement you see in the water at the end of video are the remaining carp that we stocked for weed control. Each fish is about 30-36 inches (no lie) and the fish are literally stacked on top of each other in the small amount of water still remaining in the lake. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrators Horton Posted September 8, 2009 Administrators Share Posted September 8, 2009 Holy Crap! That is the most depressing thing I have ever seen. Goode ★ HO Syndicate ★ KD Skis ★ MasterCraft ★ PerfSki Radar ★ Reflex ★ S Lines ★ Stokes Drop a dime in the can Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller ForrestGump Posted September 8, 2009 Baller Share Posted September 8, 2009 That is crazy. I talked to Marc Austin on Friday and he was telling me about the carp. I hate to see that, especially for such a nice group of homeowners. I'm still very much appreciative of Aquaplex for allowing me to stay in the clubhouse for a week when we were run out of Houston due to no power after Hurricane Ike. It sure did ski nice that week! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller MAD11 Posted September 8, 2009 Baller Share Posted September 8, 2009 Horton,You got that right. We keep the curtains on the back of the house closed right now so we don't have to see it. It will rain. Thanks to Sonny & Eileen Berry for letting some of us ski there all summer. ma Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller ToddL Posted September 8, 2009 Baller Share Posted September 8, 2009 More pics and a cell phone video.   http://www.waterskiaustin.com/Lakes/drought2009.htm Most of these pics are over 1 month old - so they don't really tell the current story. Austin, TX (Central Texas Area) -Austin Aquaplex - completely dryFrameswitch Ski Lakes - completely drySan Marcos River Ranch - 1 skiable lake out of 4  Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller ForrestGump Posted September 8, 2009 Baller Share Posted September 8, 2009 This is the hottest, dryest I remember it in Houston. We got rain in mid may, then we didn't get a drop for 60 days. Thankfully, we have a 2nd lake that's about 1/4 dug. So we brought out the 6" diesel pump to pump it out and managed to raise our lake 10" in order to have our last tournament last weekend. We've already dropped 2" since last Saturday. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller_ RichardDoane Posted September 8, 2009 Baller_ Share Posted September 8, 2009 If any of you "drought stricken" skiers have the chance to be in the Seattle area, I'd be glad to get you a ski ride. We've got plenty of water up here ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrators Horton Posted September 8, 2009 Administrators Share Posted September 8, 2009 Richard,That is not really funny. Goode ★ HO Syndicate ★ KD Skis ★ MasterCraft ★ PerfSki Radar ★ Reflex ★ S Lines ★ Stokes Drop a dime in the can Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller SkiRV Posted September 8, 2009 Baller Share Posted September 8, 2009 Thanks Richard, but it was actually -32. It was raining so hard, I didn't think I would run it anyway, so what the heck! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tuney Posted September 8, 2009 Share Posted September 8, 2009 That is a horrible thing to see. Our public lakes have been going down for years hopefully everyone can make a quick recovery down there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller_ RichardDoane Posted September 8, 2009 Baller_ Share Posted September 8, 2009 JTH - Sorry, not meant to be a "slam" against the dry areas of TX. One of our Tuesday group moved to the Aquaplex a few years ago, so I've been aware of their predicament this season. Skiview - that was great skiing in truly lousy conditions. You definitely get an "A" for effort ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller_ RichardDoane Posted September 8, 2009 Baller_ Share Posted September 8, 2009 Horton - I've also got some video of Brad Potter jumping this past weekend, he said to tell you it's time to get those boards out and hit the ramp again ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrators Horton Posted September 8, 2009 Administrators Share Posted September 8, 2009 Yea Yea I know. . . . Tell Potter that older means smarter and jumps skis are fun but old slalom skiers get to walk. Goode ★ HO Syndicate ★ KD Skis ★ MasterCraft ★ PerfSki Radar ★ Reflex ★ S Lines ★ Stokes Drop a dime in the can Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swerveit Posted September 9, 2009 Share Posted September 9, 2009 wow, thats heartbreaking. I hope your expecting rain soon, its something I have never had to worry about. other than rain is there literally nothing that can be done? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller lakeaustinskier Posted September 9, 2009 Author Baller Share Posted September 9, 2009 Since there are two lakes (horseshoe) we had discussed damming one end and pumping into the remaining lake. Glad we didn't do that since both lakes dried up anyway. No one has skied at Aquaplex since last September.In the meantime we've renovated and dredged the marina, repaired the jump, surveyed everything etc., prayed for rain and found other places to ski - thanks to Gordon Hall and San Marcos River Ranch homeowners. Looking forward to El Nino, La Nina - whatever system brings rain.   Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller ToddL Posted September 12, 2009 Baller Share Posted September 12, 2009 There has been some rain in the Austin, TX area.  Please keep your prayers and well wishes or rain dances going!    We need several more days of focused soakings to put water back into our ski lakes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller lakeaustinskier Posted September 14, 2009 Author Baller Share Posted September 14, 2009 Worked out at Aquaplex Saturday in the rain surveying, cleaning up anchors etc. and there's about 1 inch overall in the lake now............oh well.All the carp in the video are now dead and floating and rotting. They might have survived with the additional water from the rain. Evidently timing matters. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller MAD11 Posted October 26, 2009 Baller Share Posted October 26, 2009  Somebody delete this thread because Aquaplex is full and water is running over the spillway!!! Haven't skied at my own house since last Nov. Been standing here all day watching it rain and the lake come up. Got nothing done at all. Perfect day and no more driving South to ski. Hell Yeah!!Marc Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old MS Accout Posted October 26, 2009 Share Posted October 26, 2009 Congrats on the rain Marc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller_ RichardDoane Posted October 26, 2009 Baller_ Share Posted October 26, 2009 That is excellent news, call Matt Bodick and head for the slalom gates ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller MAD11 Posted October 26, 2009 Baller Share Posted October 26, 2009 I'm gonna give the floating balls of fire ants a little time to go away. T$$ and I might try it out tomorrow before I head out on business for a few days. He looks downright bad ass on that new Strada. Can't wait to test a 67" when they get em done. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller jdarwin Posted October 26, 2009 Baller Share Posted October 26, 2009 That's great news, Marc. Look forward to coming down for Collegiate Nationals next Oct. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller ForrestGump Posted October 26, 2009 Baller Share Posted October 26, 2009 That's awesome to hear, Marc! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kstateskier Posted October 26, 2009 Share Posted October 26, 2009 I'm leaving for San Marcos in a week - glad to hear Austin is getting rain! PHEW :) That video of Austin Skiplex was downright depressing.  Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller lakeaustinskier Posted October 26, 2009 Author Baller Share Posted October 26, 2009 Just got word that several people were having a party watching the lake fill up, then cheered when the first finger of water crept over the Aquaplex dam.DELETE this thread! Let the junk settle out of the water and let's ski! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller ForrestGump Posted October 26, 2009 Baller Share Posted October 26, 2009 Hopefully some of the fish and/or their eggs survived under the mud. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller lakeaustinskier Posted October 26, 2009 Author Baller Share Posted October 26, 2009 Forgot to say that I received some great instruction from Trent last week. Also saw the new Strada and the "Matrix" bottom. Did not try it out.        I need to settle the new bindings down - and like Marc........ need to wait for a 67. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller MAD11 Posted October 26, 2009 Baller Share Posted October 26, 2009 Did more than watch it run over the spillway. Put the Malibu in, mapped in the courses and put the boat on the new lift. Ready to go tomorrow. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller ToddL Posted October 26, 2009 Baller Share Posted October 26, 2009 Water is also flowing into Frameswitch Ski Lakes north of Austin. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller MattP Posted October 26, 2009 Baller Share Posted October 26, 2009 Great to hear the water is on its way back up. I hate to see lakes down as the one I ski on was down a few years ago not fun at all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller lakeaustinskier Posted February 23, 2010 Author Baller Share Posted February 23, 2010 It is snowing in Austin.   Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller ForrestGump Posted February 23, 2010 Baller Share Posted February 23, 2010 And in houston. :( Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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