July 17, 2026

Around 7:34 this morning Sunrise Beach Fire Department Rescue Boat 50, with Bill Long and Charlie Trammel on board, responded to a water rescue call on the Llano River near the confluence of the Llano and Colorado Rivers. The jet ski had become disable with an apparent operator on board. Upon arrival of Boat 50, the strong current had pushed the jet ski into an area where the operator was able to secure it to a tree and disembark. 

As a safety reminder, the Llano River and Lake LBJ downstream of the confluence currently has large amounts of submerged debris that can damage watercraft. Jet skis and other water jet powered boats can suck debris into their water intakes, damaging the pump components and rendering the vessel powerless. Propeller powered boats can also sustain damage to their props when they strike submerged logs and other submerged items. Additionally with flood gates open on Wirtz and Starke dams there are unusually strong currents on the lake, in addition to the hidden debris.

Prudent boat and jet ski operators should consider refraining from recreational boating activities for the next several days until the debris settles out of the lake and currents return to normal levels.