The extended drought and extreme heat is affecting a very popular Lake Ray Hubbard boat ramp in Rockwall.
City leaders closed the state Highway 66 boat ramp because of low water levels.
The drying shores of Lake Ray Hubbard and the empty boat ramp at S.H. 66 aren't what Rockwall residents remember.
"It's extremely unfortunate," said Rockwall Resident Scott Gill. "To see that there is no way to get on the water if you have a boat or you'd like to go fishing- take your kids fishing is - to me a very sad thing, It’s what summer is made for."
Under the scorching Texas sun, lake levels are getting low again, forcing Rockwall city leaders to close the S.H. 66 boat ramp, after several safety complaints.
The City of Dallas, which owns the lake, said on Friday that Lake Ray Hubbard was 4.66 feet lower than normal and with triple-digit temperatures and no big rains it will keep dropping.
Local
The latest news from around North Texas.
Dallas City leaders said Lake Ray Hubbard's upstream neighbor, Lake Lavon, is down more than 9 feet.
"There's a lot of structure in the water-stumps and when the water gets this low, really, quite frankly it's kind of dangerous," said Dave Fossier, Rockwall Resident who lives on the lake.
City of Rockwall leaders said on Aug.9, 2012 the lake was 2.2 feet lower, but by the end of last year, it was more than 6 feet below average.
"The last time I saw it like this, it was a lot like this," said Fossier. "The water starts drying up, the road over here will start to show and a lot of time people will come in the water and they'll start taking off and start heading south and they'll go over the road, mess up their boat, get a big bill from the boat repair company."
Residents hope rain will pour down some relief before lake levels get worse.
"Hopefully we can get some rain and the water will get up," said Gill.
There are other public boat ramps for Lake Ray Hubbard south of Interstate 30 on Dalrock at Robertson Park.
