Now, in the wake of the partial failure in May of a dam on another part of the river, river officials are weighing whether to drain Lake McQueeney, a private lake, in order to make repairs that would prevent a similar collapse. “This is a bad deal for homeowners.”, On ExpressNews.com: Lake association takes steps toward creating a tax to overhaul Dunlap dam. The news that four lakes on the Guadalupe River will be drained next month has residents living along those lakes up in arms. The agreement includes closing lakes for at least 30 days to all activity. Meadow Lake, Lake Placid and Lake McQueeney To be drained by the end of September. Nancy Bruington, a resident on Lake McQueeney, slaps down a bill while saying, "Here's your dollar for your dam deal," at the end of her comment time … He previously covered real estate, economic development, retail and tourism. Upon graduating from Moody College of Communication at the University of Texas at Austin in 2014, Joshua joined the Express-News in 2014 as a breaking news reporter for mySA.com. Dams along Lake McQueeney, Lake Placid, Meadow Lake and Lake Gonzales are more than 90 years old. Edward Rose, 89, told the newspaper his family has owned property around Lake McQueeney since the 1930s and he has been visiting the reservoir since he was 5 years old. The dam on Lake Dunlop failed earlier this year, causing the water behind the dam to go crashing down the river. GBRA General Manager and CEO Kevin Patteson and the GBRA board of directors are finalizing negotiations for funding and operations contracts with the Lake McQueeney and Lake Placid WCID. “If they did that, I’m sure they’re not going to be coming over here,” Galvan said. “Bonds will be issued by GBRA for the project and debt service for the individual projects on each lake will be paid for by a pledge of tax revenues from taxpayers on those lakes,” according to GBRA officials. The GBRA has applied for zero-interest and low-interest loans from the Texas Water Development Board for replacement and repair projects associated with the aging damns, officials said. Dear Lake McQueeney Home & Land Owners, In March of 2016, the spill gate at the Lake Wood dam outside Gonzales collapsed. GUADALUPE COUNTY, Texas --The Guadalupe … They would likely stay away if the river authority opted to drain McQueeney. Residents who depend on the lake for recreation and their livelihood don't like the idea. After the collapse of the Lake Dunlap dam on May 14, the Guadalupe-Blanco River Authority is considering a proposal to drain the lake. Fact check: No, Biden didn't block Texas from increasing... Information outages plagued storm response, Medical examiner pleads for help with pandemic, Alamo Street likely will remain open to vehicles, Capt. On Sept. 16, the Guadalupe-Blanco River Authority, or GBRA, will dewater Lake Gonzales, Lake Placid, Lake McQueeney and Meadow Lake as a safety measure. Before that the spillgate failed on Lake Wood in 2016. On ExpressNews.com: With dams at risk of failing, GBRA looks to drain four lakes on Guadalupe River, “There were never any worries back then,” said Hilton, 62. “It’s a crisis. Each lake is expected to take three days with all lakes drained … Late last week, a letter was sent to Texas Governor Greg Abbott from State Representative John Kuempel who represents Seguin and Guadalupe … Credit: Scott Ball / San Antonio Report Four lakes formed by dams on the Guadalupe River east of San Antonio are set to be drained in September after the failure of a similar dam in May caused safety concerns up- and down-river. The Guadalupe Blanco River Authority announced today the systematic draining of its four remaining lakes. The Guadalupe-Blanco River Authority says draining Lake McQueeney may be necessary to effect dam repairs. Charlie Hickman is … It was formed in 1928 by the construction of a dam to provide hydroelectric power to the area. Janet Hudson 830-401-1461 janet.hudson4@gmail.com. But properties downstream from the 91-year-old dam likely wouldn’t see a huge impact, officials have said. McQueeney, along with Lake Gonzales, Meadow Lake and Lake Placid are scheduled to be drained one-by-one beginning September 16. Lake McQueeney is a reservoir on the Guadalupe River located 5 miles (8 km) west of Seguin in Guadalupe County, Texas, United States. “Now, all of a sudden, everything’s a crisis.”. Local bait shops could also take a hit from decreased fishing traffic if the lake is drained, said Jo Apperson, who helps out at Harley’s McQueeney Mini-Mall and Bait Stop. Still, they couldn’t last forever. In August 2019, the GBRA announced that Lake Gonzales, Meadow Lake, Lake Placid and Lake McQueeney would be drained due to concerns over aging dams. Belton owns a business teaching skiing lessons at the Lake Breeze Ski Lodge on Lake McQueeney and said his livelihood and many others depend on the water in the lake. “We just are disappointed that the folks that we've been working with have jumped the gun on this and we're as surprised as anyone else," Long said. Boaters enjoy the waters of Lake McQueeney on Sunday. Copyright 2020 by KSAT - All rights reserved. Joe Solansky 830-857-4950 lakewoodfriends@yahoo.com … Management of the dam and lake was assumed by the Guadalupe-Blanco River Authorityon May 1, 1963. The Guadalupe-Blanco River Authority announced Thursday that Lake Gonzales, Meadow Lake, Lake Placid and Lake McQueeney will all be drained amid concerns about aging dams. Mark Long with the Friends of Lake McQueeney says GBRA blindsided lakegoers and residents with the news of the dewatering plan. After Lake Wood drained and engineering studies began, it appeared that GBRA could replace the structural steel within the dams to extend their lives. It will begin with the southern-most lake, Lake Gonzales and continue upstream to Meadow Lake, Lake Placid and Lake McQueeney. He says the dams that contain Lake Gonzales, Meadow Lake, Lake Placid and Lake McQueeney were built in the 1920s, and the GBRA has determined they are no longer safe. Financing and operational contracts will address the specifics of spillgate replacement and dam repair on each lake, according to GBRA officials. Aerial footage shows what’s at stake for 4 GBRA lakes as deal postpones draining. SHARE. Lake McQueeney WCID was created in April and will also be on the ballot for voter confirmation. Most of it is approximately 10 feet (3 m) deep, wit… Concerns over the aging dams in the latter part of 2019 came after a partial dam failure at Lake Dunlap on the morning of May 14 that same year. On ExpressNews.com: Residents of Guadalupe River lakes brace for worst. He added that the Lake McQueeney dam is at much less risk of failure now since the collapse of Dunlap, which is above it. Photo courtesy of Jason Philips Water rushes over the Lake McQueeney … The lake drained away, and the dam wasn’t repaired. Joshua Fechter is a reporter covering City Hall and San Antonio politics for the Express-News. The revenues will be used for debt service, operation and maintenance costs and other lawful purposes. In August 2019, the GBRA announced that Lake Gonzales, Meadow Lake, Lake Placid and Lake McQueeney would be drained due to concerns over aging dams. Lake McQueeney, fed by the Guadalupe River, has avoided a sudden draining but boat traffic will be halted between 30 and 60 days following an agreement with the GBRA. Hilton said his home on Guadalupe River’s eastern shore is at a high enough elevation to wait out any potential floodwaters. The full lakes will … Lakes won't be drained, pending Oct. 2020 trial; GBRA, property owners agree to temporary injunction. By the end of the day, Lake Wood was totally drained. “It wasn’t like they were putting out newspapers that said ‘the dams are failing,’” Apperson said. Credit: Scott Ball / San Antonio Report . Schedule Private Tour. On the other hand, draining Lake McQueeney could cause his property value to plummet, though not enough for him to take a loss, Hilton said. When George Hilton bought his home along the Guadalupe River as a fixer-upper in 2005, there were few worries about its waterfront location. But the proposal has residents fearful that their property values could take a hit and business owners worried their business would dry up. Friends of Lake McQueeney. Morrie Carraway, 37, of San Antonio, fishes by the public boat ramp at Lake Placid near Seguin on Sunday. She has reported on several high-profile stories during her career at KSAT and specializes in trending news and things to do around Texas and San Antonio. He said the group Friends of Lake McQueeney has begun talks with the GBRA on a way to pay for the renovation of the dam. Mary Claire Patton has been a journalist with KSAT 12 since 2015. However, a judge put a temporary halt to the draining of the four lakes last September to hear arguments from lawyers representing residents who live along the lakes in addition to GBRA lawyers. Lake McQueeney homes for sale are perfect for those looking for a vacation house on the lake so they can take the boat out for a spin and take part in all sorts of water sports. Preserve Lake Dunlap Association. The work will then move upstream to Meadow Lake, Lake Placid and Lake McQueeney… ... Edward Rose talks about life on Lake McQueeney during an interview at his daughter’s lake house on Sept. 25, 2019. The dam at Lake McQueeney, shown here, and at five other lakes on the Guadalupe River were built in the late 1920s and early 1930s by private developers to … Some property owners who live out on Lake McQueeney believe the GBRA is jumping the gun. After the collapse of the Lake Dunlap dam on May 14, the Guadalupe-Blanco River Authority is considering a proposal to drain the lake. Texas launches effort to vaccinate homebound seniors in... George P. Bush announces truce over the Alamo restoration, SAWS paying commissioner who is scrutinizing storm response, Brockhouse issues five-debate challenge to mayor. Watch exact moment of partial dam failure at Lake Dunlap. S.A. gardening expert: freeze may have killed all Pride of... Canyon Lake man arrested in U.S. Capitol riot case, USAA pays former CEO Stuart Parker millions in severance, Funeral home sued for San Antonio man’s mistaken burial, 6 foods to avoid if you’re taking these prescription drugs, Too soon to know if S.A.’s palm trees survived the freeze, With dams at risk of failing, GBRA looks to drain four lakes on Guadalupe River, Residents of Guadalupe River lakes brace for worst, Lake association takes steps toward creating a tax to overhaul Dunlap dam, Guadalupe-Blanco River Authority expands restricted zones near dams. Recreation on Lake McQueeney will likely be non-existent as the Guadalupe River-fed lake will be 'dewatered' due to deteriorating dam spillgates. The WCID for Lake Dunlap was created in February and will move toward a voter confirmation election in November, according to the GBRA. “They put out a monthly report. Many out-of-towners have vacation homes along McQueeney, said Blake’s Cafe co-owner Rick Galvan. Cordova on Canyon Lake is shocked by the news of little sister lakes to be drained GBRA will drain its lakes . Thursday, the GBRA announced that the settlement would help address specifics of a spillgate replacement and dam repair. A portion of Lake McQueeney Ski Lodge in Guadalupe County, Texas. Eberle stayed with his jet to avoid crashing into housing. Watch exact moment of … Abbott said it is the federal government’s responsibility to test the migrants. A court ruling still prevents the lakes from being drained and a second lawsuit, also on behalf of property owners in the area, has yet to reach a settlement. “I would be more concerned about them taking away the lakefront than me getting flooded,” Hilton said. The GBRA owns the six dams that create the Guadalupe Valley Lakes system and the waters within the lakes. Who’s reading that?”, Joshua Fechter is a staff writer covering San Antonio city government and politics. They would've drained them," Sutter said. ... where he reports on the environment. It was the second spill gate to fail since 2016, when Lake Wood drained after its gates failed. The settlement agreement will allow GBRA to continue maintaining current operating levels on each lake “until work begins on the spillgate replacement and repairs on that lake’s dam.”. The lake is situated about 40 minutes northwest of San Antonio by car and it takes approximately one hour t… Then Meadow Lake will be dewatered, followed by Lake Placid and culminating near the end of September with the emptying of Lake McQueeney … A boy works on his skiing at Lake McQueeney on Sunday. Lake Gonzales will be drained first beginning Sept. 16. The dewatering will begin at the southern-most lake, Lake Gonzales and continue upstream to Meadow Lake, Lake Placid and Lake McQueeney.” Although the court is inching toward a ruling, support opposing the draining of the lakes continues to pour in. For Information or To Book a Tour! Lawsuits filed to prevent draining of GBRA lakes. Its prominent feature is Treasure Island, a residential area that has been subjected to major flooding in 1972, 1998, and 2002. “We have been assigned to a visiting judge from Kerrville, the Honorable Steve Ables,” Cedillo said Monday. | jfechter@express-news.net | Twitter: @JFreports. UPDATED 4:24 PM CT Sep. 16, 2019 PUBLISHED 11:51 AM CT Sep. 16, 2019 PUBLISHED 11:51 AM CDT Sep. 16, 2019. By Patrick Svitek and Julián Aguilar Texas Tribune, San Antonio reports 287 new COVID cases, three more deaths. Lindsey Gillum 830-857-5520 lindsey8147@gmail.com lakemcqueeney.org. From Texas Standard: The news that four lakes on the Guadalupe River will be drained next month has residents living along those lakes up in arms. Water Control Improvement Districts (WCID) have also been established as a way to help residents tax themselves and raise money for dam construction. A spill gate on the Lake Dunlap dam failed in May — as did a spill gate on Lake Wood in 2016. Below the dam, though, residents and rivergoers aren’t heeding safety warnings from the river authority “anymore than we did before Dunlap collapsed,” Apperson said. If you need help with the Public File, call 210-351-1241. Lake Gonzales was expected to be dewatered first, followed by Meadow Lake, Lake Placid and Lake McQueeney. “Homeowners shouldn’t have to suffer and pay more taxes just to get it fixed,” said Joseph, 47. Cedillo filed the petition on behalf of 10 residents who live along Lake McQueeney and Lake Placid. Lake Placid citizens raised $236,000 and these funds allowed CULP to join with Friends of Lake McQueeney (FOLM) to pursue legal action against GBRA. Friends of Lake McQueeney (FOLM) is a non-profit organization dedicated to maintaining and improving the quality of Lake McQueeney, Texas, for the enjoyment of all those who live, work, and play on it's waters. River authority officials have warned that boaters and campers could be killed by rapidly rising water levels if the McQueeny dam’s three spill gates collapsed all at once. The failures have prompted new urgency to fix Guadalupe-Blanco River Authority’s six aging dams. It will take approximately three days to drain each lake. GBRA officials said water rushed out of the lake at 11,000 cubic feet per second after a Dunlap Dam spillgate failed. Boaters enjoy the waters of Lake McQueeney on Sunday. The GBRA will continue to operate and perform maintenance on the Guadalupe Valley dams following the repairs to the spillgates. J Harmon 713-202-8870 jrharmon123@yahoo.com plda.org. It will then proceed to Meadow Lake, Lake Placid, and Lake McQueeney. This story has been updated. On ExpressNews.com: Guadalupe-Blanco River Authority expands restricted zones near dams. Two months after a dam failure led to the draining of Lake Dunlap, the Guadalupe-Blanco River Authority will consider purposely draining four more lakes due to safety concerns. Litigation costs amounted to $290,000, which resulted in CULP funding approximately $54,000 of the total, which has severely depleted CULP’s cash reserves. In those days, Hilton could take a boat and drive it right next to the Lake McQueeney dam without any concern about whether the barrier would fail. Water levels drop as Lake Dunlap drains following a spill gate failure on Tuesday, May 14, 2019. It's also great for just relaxing and cooling off in the hot Texas summers, as the water temperature and cleanliness is ideal during the warmer months. Those lakes include Lake Dunlap, Lake McQueeny, Lake Placid, Meadow Lake, Lake Gonzales and Lake Wood. Another neighbor had planned to build a second house on his land but is now waiting to see what the river authority decides. By Stacy Rickard Texas. The Guadalupe County Commissioners Court recently approved the creation of the Lake Placid WCID, and a voter confirmation election will occur in November, GBRA officials reported. Revenues from the sale of hydroelectric power at each lake will go to the WCID for that lake moving forward. 1 of 3. “This settlement agreement is a testament to the results we can achieve when we all work together toward a common goal,” said Patteson. Read him on our free site, mySA.com, and on our subscriber site, ExpressNews.com. (Stacy Rickard/Spectrum News) Lakes Won't Be Drained After GBRA, Property Owners Reach Compromise . Though he has no plans to sell his home, Hilton said his neighbor is thinking about selling. Some homeowners — including Chad Joseph, who lived on Lake McQueeney for 14 years — have bristled at a proposal to create voter-approved taxing districts to pay for potential dam repairs. Proposal to drain Lake McQueeney in wake of dam failures ripples through small town, Abbott rejects aid from Biden to test migrants. Instead, Joseph said, the state should pony up funds to fix the dam. And draining the lake could have stark consequences for local businesses that depend on traffic to the lake. Meadow Lake Nolte Dam Association. GUADALUPE VALLEY LAKES, Texas – A settlement has been reached in one of the court cases regarding Guadalupe-Blanco River Authority and the property owners along the Guadalupe Valley lakes. Friends of Lake Wood.
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