City says Rio Vista Falls up for emergency repairs

The city announced on Friday that parts of the San Marcos River at Rio Vista Falls will join the swimming hole below Spring Lake Dam in being adorned with yellow caution tape.

Damage from “past flooding, including the 2015 floods, is forcing the city of San Marcos to make emergency repairs,” the press release said.

Though not closing the area to recreation, the city said the parks department is “warning the public to use caution until repairs are made” and that the yellow tape will soon be replaced with “secure fencing.”

They also said they may not know the extent of the damage until repairs begin, and that the “recommended improvements” were based on an onsite review in December of last year by the Recreation Engineering and Planning (REP).

Specifically, engineers are concerned about areas below the second and third “drops” that may be unsafe. To speed up the repair process, the city is seeking emergency permits to begin work, though even then the process could take months.

Both federal and state agencies need to sign off, including the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Texas Parks & Recreation, the General Land Office, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality and the Texas Historical Commission.

“Since it may take several months to receive our permits to begin work, visitors should use caution while recreating in the river and avoid the areas that are temporarily closed off,” Parks Operations Manager Bert Stratemann said. “Visitors may still enjoy our river, but it’s recommended that they not go into any underwater ledge areas, as they might not be stable, and not swim alone or without a life jacket.”

In addition to promoting safety, the improvements should help prevent bank erosion, the city said.

For more information and to view pictures of the areas requiring repair, visit the city's website.