It looks like Styrofoam is out for boat docks on the Highland Lakes and replacing it is likely to be costly.  The page on the LCRA website talking about boat dock safety standards states that all new boat docks will need to use Encased Floatation to keep them afloat. All docks, regardless of age, will need to have the same by February 18, 2014. Metal Drums and barrels will be prohibited.  The LCRA boat dock safety standards can be found here.

According to a person at one boat dock company I talked with, this is what will need to be done: The existing Styrofoam blocks under a dock will be measured. New Styrofoam blocks will be ordered, but they will be encapsulated in vinyl. Workers will dive under the dock, remove and replace existing Styrofoam blocks one at a time until the dock has been retrofitted.

I have not gotten confirmation on requirements for marinas, but if individual boat dock owners will need to make the change, one would think that marinas will as well. Although the encapsulated blocks will expensive, I doubt they will be the biggest part of the expense. That will probably be the labor. I have not heard anything about estimates, but the one order that the dock company has taken so far cost around $3000. I do not have the size of that dock so I can’t really put that into perspective yet.

I have a feeling this is being done because so much Styrafoam breaks off during floods. The stuff ends up on the shore when the water retreats and also makes its way downstream and causes a lot of litter.  In addition to flooding, small parts of the stuff probably breaks off just from wear.

I also think that this new requirement may sneak up on a lot of people. It has not been well publicized and the dock company I talked with has had only a few orders. So anyone with a dock or anyone looking to buy Lake Travis waterfront property needs to be made aware of this.