Texas drought: Wimberley's Blue Hole closed for 2 weeks due to low water levels - Austin American-Statesman

Wimberley closes Blue Hole for two weeks due to low water levels

Texas drought: Wimberley's Blue Hole closed for 2 weeks due to low water levels
Skye Seipp

This summer's extreme heat, which has intensified drought conditions and dried up water holes across Central Texas, has claimed another victim: Wimberley's Blue Hole.

On Tuesday, officials with Blue Hole Regional Park announced it would be closed for the next two weeks due to low water levels that pose a possible safety concern to visitors. Authorities will review conditions again in two weeks to see if it's safe to reopen.

The closure comes ahead of Labor Day weekend, when people usually flock to local swimming holes for one last dive before summer's end.

More: What impact is Texas drought having on Austin-area swimming holes? Here's what experts say

Cypress Creek, the creek that flows through Blue Hole, is currently about 2 feet below its normal level, according to park officials. The decision to close the swimming area was made solely because the water levels are too low for swimming, officials said, not because of high levels of E. coli.

Anyone who has purchased a day pass for dates when the park is now closed will receive a full refund, officials said.

Although people won't be able to go swimming, they can still visit the park for free to use the hike and bike trails, picnic areas, playscapes and sport courts.

"We understand the disappointment and frustration that this early closure brings to our community," Richard Shaver, director of Wimberley Parks and Recreation, said in a press release. "This decision was not taken lightly, and we want to assure our visitors that their safety will always be our highest priority."

Officials said they will be monitoring the situation and will share updates through city communication channels.

Blue Hole is the latest of many swimming holes in the region to close due to unsafe swimming levels, driven by drought conditions from the unusually hot summer Central Texas has faced this year. Wimberley's other popular swimming hole, Jacob's Well, closed indefinitely due to a lack of water flow.

Although it remains open, Barton Springs Pool has also seen a reduction in its water flow, down to 15 cubic feet per second. Its average since 1978 has been about 68 cfs, according to previous reporting by the Statesman.

Travis and Hays counties are both experiencing extreme drought conditions, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. It's unclear when conditions will improve, but meteorologists have suggested that this year's later months could bring heightened rainfall.

High temperatures of 100 degrees appear to be normal for the immediate future.