Ants at the dam: Lady Bird Lake level lowered due to insect intrusion

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Paddleboarders and kayakers may have noticed the water levels were a little lower on Lady Bird Lake this week. It turns out ants were the culprit.

According to Austin Water, on Sunday night, it experienced a malfunction of the Longhorn Dam gate that allows precise control of the the water level.

"Ants intruded on the instrument panel, causing a short circuit, which tripped a breaker and partially opened the gate," a spokesperson for Austin Water said.

The Lower Colorado River Authority's Hydromet data showed the water level dropped about two feet on Monday, but returned to normal by Monday evening.

Water wasn't lost and Austin Water said the event counted toward a scheduled water release planned for Sunday evening.

"The water released through this event flows into the Colorado River below Longhorn Dam, which can be used to meet downstream needs," Austin Water's spokesperson said.

The spokesperson added the power was fully restored, and the gate is now operating normally.

Here's part of the statement from Austin Water on the incident.

On Sunday evening, we experienced a control system malfunction at Longhorn Dam, which temporarily impacted the operation of the bascule gate, a movable drawbridge-like gate allowing precise water level control. Ants intruded on the instrument panel, causing a short circuit, and tripping a breaker, which partially opened the gate. Power was fully restored, and the gate is operating normally.

Austin Water statement