For years, Texas boaters have faced the same question:
“Will my marina still be usable when the lake levels drop?”

At SeasonalSlips, our mission has always been to make long-term marina decisions simple, transparent, and data-driven. Today, we’re excited to introduce a feature that does exactly that.

📢 Meet: Low-Water Safety™

A new scoring system that rates every Texas marina on its resilience to extreme drought and fluctuating lake levels.

Developed using trusted hydrological data, multi-year drought trends, and historical satellite imagery, Low-Water Safety™ helps boaters confidently choose a slip that stays operable—no matter what Texas weather brings.

Why We Built This Feature

Texas reservoirs—especially Lake Travis—can drop dramatically during drought years. In the 2011 and 2023–2024 drought cycles, many coves dried out, gangways became unusable, and entire basins went offline while others remained fully operational.

Boaters needed proof, not promises.

So we built a per-marina scoring model that analyzes:

10–20 years of lake level history from the
U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)

Reservoir fluctuation patterns from the
Texas Water Development Board (TWDB)

Seasonal drought forecasts from
NOAA’s National Water Model

Operational water control data from the
Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA)

Historical satellite imagery (Google Earth Pro) of each marina during severe drought conditions

The result is a first-of-its-kind marina safety signal designed specifically for long-term slip renters and lakefront boaters.

How Low-Water Safety™ Works

Every Texas marina in our database is evaluated individually using:

1. Lake Fluctuation Analysis

We measure how much each lake has historically dropped in major drought cycles.
Examples:

Lake Travis → highly variable, up to 60–70 ft drop

Lake Austin → constant-level lake managed by LCRA

Galveston Bay & coastal marinas → tidal, not drought-driven

2. Marina Basin Depth + Placement

Using imagery from drought years, we identify:

Docks that remain floating

Basins that retain depth

Coves that become mud

Gangways that become dangerously steep or disconnected

3. Dock Type & Infrastructure

Floating vs fixed docks

Shoreline slope

Proximity to main lake channels

Inlet narrowing and sedimentation patterns

4. Historical Operability Check

We reviewed:

2011 drought

2013–2014 drought

2023–2024 drought

2018–2020 normal-level years

This allows us to see exactly which marinas stayed functional—and which didn’t.

Three-Tier Risk Rating

Each marina receives a Low-Water Safety Rating:

🟢 Low Risk — “Low-Water Safe”

Deep basins

Floating docks that stayed operable through historical lows

Marina operations unaffected even in severe drought

🟡 Medium Risk

Generally safe, but with potential shallowing in extreme lows

Longer walkways or limited slip classes may be affected

Suitable for most boaters who monitor lake conditions

🔴 High Risk

Docks grounded or inoperable in historical drought imagery

Coves or inlets that lose water in significant drops

Not recommended for long-term slip tenancies during drought seasons

These scores now appear directly on every SeasonalSlips marina profile.

Examples From Our Analysis

Here are a few insights the scoring surfaced:

🟢 Paradise Cove Marina – Lake Travis – Low Risk

Located in a deep main-channel basin, Paradise Cove maintained over 100 feet of depth during recent lake lows and remained accessible through every drought year reviewed.

🔴 Hurst Harbor Marina – Lake Travis – High Risk

Historical imagery and public reports show significant operational challenges during low-water periods, including near-grounding conditions and compromised gangway access.

🟢 Lake Austin Marina – Low Risk

Lake Austin is a constant-level lake, managed for stability by LCRA. Marinas here remain fully operable even in severe drought years.

🟢 Harborwalk & Coastal Marinas – Low Risk

Coastal marinas in Galveston Bay, Ingleside, and Port Lavaca are influenced by tides and weather events—not drought cycles—making them inherently low-risk.

Why This Matters for Boaters

If you’re securing a long-term or seasonal slip, especially on a Texas reservoir, lake levels matter. A lot.

Low-Water Safety™ helps you:

Avoid marinas that become unusable when the lake drops

Choose slips with deeper, more drought-resistant basins

Confidently plan shore power, vessel drafts, and boat size

Protect your investment during unpredictable weather years

For marina operators, it also creates transparency, builds trust, and highlights locations built to withstand Texas water patterns.

Where You Can See the New Feature

Low-Water Safety™ is now live on every Texas marina page on SeasonalSlips.

Just look for the badge:

Low-Water Safe

Medium Risk

High Risk

You’ll also find a detailed explanation showing why each marina received its rating, backed by USGS/TWDB/NOAA/LCRA data and multi-year imagery reviews.

This Is Just the Beginning

We’re expanding Low-Water Safety™ across:

Arizona

Oklahoma

Tennessee

Georgia

Florida inland lakes

And more…

We’re also working on:

Water level alerts

Long-term drought forecasting

Slip availability tied to reservoir conditions

Boater decision tools based on vessel length & draft

Final Word

Texas boaters deserve clarity.
Now they have it.

Low-Water Safety™ takes the guesswork out of seasonal slip rentals and brings real hydrological science to marina selection for the first time.

Explore the new feature now at: