With the sun shining on a beautiful Sunday afternoon, residents took to social media to post mesmerizing photographs of boats floating on the blue water of Lake Travis.

However, during an April 14 Facebook address five days earlier, Lakeway Mayor Sandy Cox said all boating activities on Lake Travis are banned in conjunction with the April 13 Travis County COVID-19 disaster declaration. She said the move complies with the county’s halting of all nonessential travel — including recreational boating.

"Essentially, all boating has been canceled on the lake unless you have some essential need, which I’m hard-pressed to come up with," Cox said in the address.

During another Facebook Live speech Tuesday, Cox acknowledged that residents were frustrated by the boating ban but said the city can’t ignore such orders from Travis County and is required to "enforce what is on the books or what has been sent down."

Travis County spokesman Hector Nieto confirmed that the order bans boating unless boating is needed for an essential service lakeside, such as going to a grocery store or physician.

"The order signed by Travis County Judge Sarah Eckhardt does prohibit recreational boating and the order itself also describes how it’s being enforced," Nieto said.

But on social media, many posted pictures of boats on Lake Travis, arguing that the ban isn’t enforceable and the mayor misinterpreted its effect.

Two marina operators in Lakeway, who declined to speak on the record, said their boat docks were open for business on Sunday. Neither read the county’s language as a ban on boating, given that other recreational activities are permitted.

Greg Buck, who manages the Sail & Ski Yacht Club and Marina, said he hasn’t been informed by any officials that his boaters can’t go out on Lake Travis.

"(The Lower Colorado River Authority) controls the lake and they haven’t shut the lake down," he said.

Boat owners are permitted to take out their vehicles without extra people on board, he said.

Located on Stewart Road just outside of Lakeway’s jurisdiction, Buck said his facility isn’t governed by the city’s mayor.

"We’ve seen boaters out there, and we’ve seen the sheriff's department out there. And they haven’t pulled anyone over," he said, adding that many boaters were on the water Sunday.

Briarcliff Marina manager Kobie Powers said he wasn’t aware of any boating ban on Lake Travis. He said boating traffic has been as consistent now as in previous years on the lake.

Travis County and the Lower Colorado River Authority police Lake Travis locally, and, during last week’s address, Cox said those entities will be citing violators. However, since the stay at home orders were issued by Travis County, the City of Austin and others, LCRA Public Information Officer Clara Tuma said her agency doesn’t have the statutory authority to enforce local orders.

The Travis County sheriff’s and fire marshal’s offices, together with other peace officers, are designated within the order to enforce its provisions. Violators are punishable by a fine of not more than $1,000 or a jail term of not more than 180 days, or both fine and confinement.

According to spokeswoman Kristen Dark, the sheriff’s deputies continue to be a presence on Lake Travis "because it is not closed and boats are on the water."

"We have an obligation to protect public safety," she said. "We don’t pull vehicles over on our roadways and ask people why they’re driving; likewise, we don’t pull boats over and ask why people are boating. If there’s a legitimate law-related reason to pull a boat over, we take the opportunity to educate the boaters about the ordinance and seek voluntary compliance."

Although one marina owner said Lakeway police officers dropped off a copy of the Travis County order last week, Lakeway Communications Director Jarrod Wise said law enforcement won’t be issuing citations, instead focusing on educating marina personnel on the new orders.

Other recreational options

Although Travis County parks were closed during Easter weekend, the city’s Hamilton Greenbelt was open and will remain available to the public as long as users maintain a 6-foot distance between one another. However, Cox said she’s received reports of park users congregating at its facilities.

"I want to keep our parks open," she said. "I think it’s a really good asset for us to utilize during this time. But if it becomes a management nightmare, we’re going to have to close them."

Cox said the city’s golf courses are closed but since they are a "big open area" similar to parks, individuals can play with social distancing in effect. She said course workers are cleaning the restrooms but there are no flags, golf carts or water stations.

Tennis courts in the city, including the Hills of Lakeway-Elevations Athletic Club, also known as World of Tennis, are closed, Wise said.

A supplemental order released by Lakeway on April 10 allows RVs to be parked in driveways to house those quarantined as a result of COVID-19, such as first responders or health care workers who are self-isolating. This relaxation of city regulations only applies to travel trailers and not to boats or all-terrain vehicles, Cox said.

Slowing spread is crucial

The county’s stay-at-home orders were extended through May 8; however, Cox said an uptick in the number of residents traveling and gathering during the Easter holiday weekend may show a corresponding increase in cases of the virus after two weeks, when the disease’s incubation period ends.

"That’s how quickly this can occur, that we can take steps back in social distancing," Cox said. "This is crucial for us to slow the spread of this virus."

Cox said, at the time, the Lake Travis area’s COVID-19 cases included five Lakeway residents, with the number of infected individuals doubling about every 10 days. On April 17, there were 30 cases of the virus, including four cases in ZIP code 78669 covering parts of Spicewood; 12 in 78734 covering Lakeway and other unincorporated areas; and 14 in 78738 covering parts of Lakeway and Bee Cave, according to the Travis County COVID-19 public dashboard.

"I just want to reemphasize that, for those who don’t think it’s here, it is here," Cox said.

Although on April 6 the mayor declined to require Lakeway residents to wear face masks, the measure was made mandatory by Travis County’s order for those leaving their homes.

"It is very crucial, no matter where you go out publicly, that you do wear your face covering," Cox said, noting some exceptions to the new regulation exist.

Two local groups — Lake Travis One and Angel Wings of Lake Travis — are resources residents can use to acquire face masks, she said.

Despite Travis County restricting all nonessential business operations and public gatherings, Cox said she is aware of some local owners and residents who are defying the order and pleaded that they stop.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s extension of his disaster declaration to mid-May allows cities access to resources and funds to navigate through the pandemic, Cox said. She reiterated that two funding programs are available to small businesses -- the LiftFund Small Business Disaster Relief Program and the Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program for COVID-19. The city’s website contains additional links to resources to help its commercial and retail business owners.

During the Facebook address, Baylor Scott & White President Philippe Bochaton and Assistant Chief Medical Officer Dr. Ghassan Salman discussed the hospital’s readiness for a surge of COVID-19 patients, citing the group’s network of more than 300 physicians and caregivers who can be accessed if needed as well as its shared resources and equipment.

"This is a worldwide effort, it’s a nationwide effort, state, local," Cox said. "It’s times like these that we come together and we shine."