Why is lake mcqueeney being drained? Steve and Nancy Bruington have continued the appeal of their election contest to disqualify the November vote in which approximately 90% of voters approved the ballot initiatives necessary to finance and repair the McQueeney Dam. Please check this website from time to time for more information about other issues. The drawdown will occur over several days as a part of the environmental risk mitigation plan. GBRA officials say the shift, which allowed for expanded water sales, wouldnt have saved the dams anyway because the systems hydroelectricity generation is a losing proposition, undercut by a combination of drought, the deregulation of the Texas energy market and competition from inexpensive natural gas. The river authority bought the dams from private owners in 1963 and has spent $25 million on repairs and maintenance. A native of the Alamo City, Baugh was hired as a suburban-cities reporter at his hometown newspaper in 2006. The GBRA, which bought the dams in 1963, says that for years, the revenue from electricity sales hasnt been enough to cover the full cost of repairs, never mind the estimated $180 million needed to replace every spill gate on all six dams with modern, automated ones. The settlement provides an immediate initiation of the engineering studies required for dam repairs at Lake Placid and Lake McQueeney at GBRAs sole expense (studies which are already under way); An application has been submitted for a zero percent interest loan from the Texas Water Development Board for the monies needed to repair the dam. An area that was once covered by Lake Wood, where a spill gate on the dam gave way in 2016, is now largely overgrown with vegetation. McQueeney Tree-House with Lake View Charming 1350 Sq foot elevated house nestled between 2 large pecan trees. Posts: 18,518. The two sides agreed to a temporary injunction that would keep the river authority from draining Lake McQueeney, Lake Placid, Meadow Lake and Lake Gonzales, pending a trial in October. But theres a palpable sense of a bygone era in Lake Wood Estates and other stretches of homes along the waterless lakes edge. Its board chairman pulled double duty as the general manager. More important, it would chart a course to become a major seller of water rather than electricity. The two experts will then select a third-party expert to assist with the effort, creating the panel of three, The panel will be appointed and have 30 days to determine what zones, if any, are safe for activity. And so thats kind of the long and short of it six months, $3 million and the board will have to approve it.. Includes the menu, user reviews, photos, and highest-rated dishes from Lake Breeze Ski Lodge. But the Wood residents are still fighting to get their lake back. Hed already announced his retirement, and current officials say Wests statement to the Wood residents caught GBRA employees by surprise. That led to our engineers making a recommendation that you could not continue to keep these gates in service.. Viral TikTok video shows loose part on S.A. rodeo Ferris wheel. Lindsey Gillum, standing in her backyard on Lake McQueeney near Seguin, is leading efforts to save the Guadalupe River lakes from being drained. FOLM makes no recommendation regarding any particular company. and then draining the water from the inside of the gate chamber to allow the gate to settle into a lowered position. 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. Concerns over aging dams and spillgates arose in March 2019 when a dam partially failed at Lake Dunlap. Weve already made good progress in just the last year. Close Map. With four of our six spill gates having failed in the past six years, all without warning, we cannot continue to operate that dam at that current condition.. Skip to content. Get the best experience and stay connected to your community with our Spectrum News app. Prices start at $88 per night, and houses and . October 10, 2022 September 16, 2022 by Brent Pollock. The Legislature created the river authority in 1933, expanding it two years later to 10 counties stretching from Central Texas to the Gulf Coast, to conduct an array of work: generating electricity, providing water and wastewater services, handling flood control and managing forests. About Us; Our Agents; Our Listings; Search All Listings; Contact Us; Info & Services. Both bathrooms have dual vanity mirrors and large . Per the settlement, GBRA will maintain current operating levels on each lake until replacement work begins. With modern dams, its often possible to dewater only a small section of the lake near the dam to do inspections, but not with those on the Guadalupe River. View News Archive, 2023 Lake McQueeney Water Control & Improvement District No. in engineering studies and work for Lake McQueeney and Lake Placid. Lake Placid was inadvertently drained last month after a heavy rain event where the spillgates were lowered to pass water flows downstream and became stuck in the lowered position. Enjoy the comfortable living in this gated golf community with Lake McQueeney river park. In the meantime, the legal battle between the lake dwellers and the GBRA is on hold but the lakes are off-limits to any recreational use for now. Residents thought West was going to quickly replace their lake, he said. Sleeps 327 bedrooms16 beds. Hydropower earned the GBRA an average of approximately $2.6 million per year over the last 10 years, GBRA communications manager Patty Gonzales said. FOLM is working to address those concerns. Hes convinced its because the GBRA wanted the water rights. Sec David Doughtie April 2020 Lake Placid Forms WCID (Emphasis added.) The GBRA had said draining the four lakes was necessary due to safety concerns over aging dams. Charming 1350 Sq foot elevated house nestled between 2 large pecan trees. Premier Host. Thats a comprehensive overhaul, not just of the spillgates themselves, but everything you need to do to address a 90-year-old structure, Hickman said. here, but the key take-aways are captured below. Lake McQueeney is a hot spot for outdoor recreation, including fishing, boating, and swimming. Sleeps 154 bedrooms15 beds. We fished from 7am till 10am. It was the second spill gate to fail since 2016, when Lake Wood drained after its gates failed. Cloudy early with partial sunshine expected late. Property owners on Lake Dunlap will be asked in a 2020 election to approve a new property tax on their lakefront land and homes. But you can bet well raise all sorts of hell if that happens. Tornado activity: McQueeney-area historical tornado activity is slightly below Texas state average.It is 10% greater than the overall U.S. average.. On 9/20/1967, a category F3 (max. 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. Most everyone is asking about timing, trees, bulkheads, possible dredging, and removal of hazards. After I viewed that, I called my friends down on the other lakes and told them, Absolutely do not get close to those dams, he said. APN . The only ramp that the public can use is located in the Logs Wood Subdivision off of FM 725. Private Seller Mc Queeney, TX, 78123 United States View Seller Inventory Send Email Request Information. An article in the June 7, 1942, edition of the San Antonio Light criticized the GBRA: It has not generated a spark of electricity, unless the board of directors keep an official cat whose fur they stroke on cold, dry days. The panel will have the opportunity to extend this window by an additional 30 days, Lakes will be closed to all activity effective beginning Thursday, until the panel has reached a decision on what areas, if any, are safe for activity, Professional law enforcement, acting as lake patrol, will be added to enforce the restrictions on each lake, GBRA will partner with law enforcement officials to ensure the enforcement of the lake restrictions. State Representative Lyle Larson, who chairs the Texas House Committee on Natural Resource, says: It has been my privilege to chair the House Natural Resources Committee. Such an injunction would stay in place pending a trial. What is the cleanest lake in Texas? On ExpressNews.com: GBRA, property owners reach a settlement. Lake McQueeney Estates. Posts: 70,336. Copyright Lake McQueeney Organization. The terms of the settlement with GBRA are significant in that they outline specific deliverables, which are now dependent upon the passage three initiatives on this falls November 3rd ballot. Many questions have come up about what will happen as the repairs are proceeding and the water is lowered. Water is an essential element for growth, he said, and the region would need more of it. Once the lowering of the spillgates at both lakes is completed, access or activities on the water may resume, but please continue to maintain a safe distance from the dams. Mary Claire Patton has been a journalist with KSAT 12 since 2015. The six dams were built between 1927 and 1932 for hydroelectric power generation, according to the San Antonio Express-News. If there was any possibility that the six lakes could be gone forever, it didnt come up immediately after the spill gate failed at the Lake Wood dam in March 2016. Texas ranch that's half the size of Rhode Island still S.A. developer buys hotel property near Market Square, UTSA, Buc-ees planning new travel centers in Wisconsin, Florida, Recreation banned on Guadalupe River lakes, Dunlap residents reach proposed deal to bring back lake, S.A. mom sentenced for transporting meth with kids in car, Four-year-old girl killed in mobile home fire near Lytle ID'd, Man hit, killed walking across West Side street identified. 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. The current owner put in a brand . Canyon Lake Homes for Sale $499,000; Seguin Homes . Followers 1427 Catches 61 Spots 40 Calaveras Lake Channel catfish are the most sought-after species followed by hybrid striped bass, red drum and largemouth bass. All residents should secure/remove property and watercraft ahead of March 27. High 82F. Winds WNW at 10 to 20 mph. There was an error and we couldn't process your subscription. Winds could occasionally gust over 40 mph.. Stunning residence situated on prime Lake McQueeney waterfront that was designed to entertain as it features a sprawling covered . 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. 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. Sleeps 12 3 bedrooms 2 bathrooms. The lakes 90-year-old middle spillgate collapsed, nearly draining the lake within 24 hours. The draining of the lakes also means that GBRA will lose the revenue from the hydropower they generate using the flow of water. Read how to be prepared for a flood and stay safe on the lake, Read about tips on how to safely boat on Lake McQueeney, Friends of Lake McQueeneyPO Box 781McQueeney, TX 78123, Copyright Lake McQueeney Organization. Then it made a play to buy the private company that provided power to San Antonio. There is no public ramp for Mcqueeney. Its prominent feature is Treasure Island, a residential area that has been . They were caught in 3 to 6 feet of water . 148 likes. Those lakes include Lake Dunlap, Lake McQueeny, Lake Placid, Meadow Lake, Lake Gonzales and Lake Wood. Will, as we have been warned repeatedly, the spill gates on our 92-year old dam also fail? With the approval and establishment of the Lake McQueeney Water Control and Improvement District #1 (WCID), the primary work to actually accomplish the Dam repairs falls to the WCID and GBRA. boat-details.find-out-more. To that end, FOLM commissioned an expert in appellate law to draft an Amicus Brief to aid the appellate court in its decision and lay out the impact on the community and broader consequences of the delay caused by the Bruingtons legal actions. Pre-owned 2011 Nautique 230 Team wake/ski boat (176 hrs) for sale in Mcqueeney, Texas (near New Braunfels) - $93,000. With the dismissal of this election contest, the District intends to proceed as quickly as possible with GBRA to We have been coordinating and communicating with the McQueeney WCID on the schedule so that they will also help get this message out as well, Nichols said. 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. GUADALUPE COUNTY, TexasThe Guadalupe-Blanco River Authority (GBRA) announced a settlement has been reached in a lawsuit prompted by a proposal to drain four lakes in the Guadalupe Valley Lakes system in order to replace aging dams and spillgates. Midway through the meeting, a little rat terrier wandered up to the lectern, hiked his leg and micturated on it. Lake Gonzales was expected to be dewatered first, followed by Meadow Lake, Lake Placid and Lake McQueeney. Meanwhile, a panel of experts will decide which areas of thelakes are safe to be opened. Dear Lake McQueeney Home & Land Owners, In March of 2016, the spill gate at the Lake Wood dam outside Gonzales collapsed. 164 Cypress Way, Mcqueeney $3,499,777. Baugh has previously written about public housing, county government and transportation for the Express-News. We appreciate the partnership, dialogue, and collaboration of the residents and lake associations throughout the process.. 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