By Anita Miller
The lakes will stay, but nobody will be on them.
The Guadalupe Blanco River Authority (GBRA) on Monday came to an agreement with landowners around three lakes it had planned to “dewater” to decrease stress on the dams that created them.
The settlement will close the lakes to all activity effective Thursday, Sept. 19. Portions of the four lakes – Gonzales, Meadow, Placid and McQueeney, could reopen if an appointed panel agrees.
The settlement was reached after a judge issued an injunction against the GBRA for its plan to dewater the four lakes which was to begin Monday with Lake Gonzales. The panel will consist of three people – one each selected by the GBRA and plaintiffs to the lawsuit and a third chosen by those first two appointees. Panelists will have 30 days to determine what zones of which lakes may be safe for activity, and the panel can extend its time of deliberation by an additional 30 days.
The agreement will prevent the lakes from being drained for 12 months, the GBRA said in a news release Monday afternoon. Lake patrol consisting of professional law enforcement will be on hand to make sure the restrictions are followed, the GBRA said.
GBRA announced its decision to drain the lakes after a spillway failed at Lake Dunlap in May. All the GBRA hydroelectric dams are around 90 years old and are said to have surpassed their useful life.
“The settlement in the Guadalupe Valley Lakes litigation helps the GBRA achieve its immediate priority of ensuring the safety of those on and around the lakes while simultaneously continuing to work collaboratively with key stakeholders to preserve their long-term sustainability,” the GBRA said. “This temporary injection will allow all parties to continue to work together to identify solution and funding for the necessary replacement of the dams. While GBRA will work closely with law enforcement officials to enforce activity restrictions, it is of the utmost importance that the community adhere to the limitations and continue to respect all restrictions until a long-term solution can be reached.”
