CONSTRUCTION BEGINS ON LAKE McQUEENEY AND LAKE PLACID DAMS

NEW BRAUNFELS, Texas – Construction to replace the dams at Lake McQueeney and Lake Placid is underway, with the Guadalupe-Blanco River Authority (GBRA) issuing the formal notice to proceed effective Monday, June 19, 2023. The estimated timeline for completion is 22 months for Lake Placid and 24 months for Lake McQueeney, pending unforeseen weather delays. 

“This is a major milestone for the Lake McQueeney community,” said Lake McQueeney WCID President Bob Worth. “We look forward to seeing the positive impact this project will have on the area for generations to come.”

“Thank you to the Lake Placid community for making today possible,” said Lake Placid WCID President Robin Dwyer. “Their overwhelming support of this permanent solution will ensure the preservation of Lake Placid for generations to come.”

Following the same model as the project nearing completion on Lake Dunlap, construction will include the replacement of the bear-trap style crest gates on each dam with new hydraulically-actuated steel crest gates. Both projects will also include structural modifications to the existing spillway structures, installation of new mechanical and electrical operating systems, improved backup power, enhanced instrumentation and controls, improved headwater and tailwater measurement tools, new video surveillance, and the addition of a supervisory control and data acquisition interfaces. Both projects also include the installation of a dewatering system that will allow future maintenance activities to be completed with a full lake level, as well as the hardening of the existing earthen dams to achieve compliance with Texas Commission on Environmental Quality Dam Safety requirements. Sundt was selected as the general contractor for both projects through a formal competitive procurement process.

“We are ready to get these projects underway,” said GBRA General Manager and CEO Darrell Nichols. “Partnership and cooperation has been the foundation of these projects and we look forward to continuing our collaboration with the Lake McQueeney and Lake Placid communities, including the Lake McQueeney WCID, Friends of Lake McQueeney, the Lake Placid WCID and Citizens United for Lake Placid (CULP).”

Funding for both projects will be at below market interest rates through the Texas Water Development Board’s Clean Water State Revolving Fund program. Per the financing and operation agreements in place between GBRA and the Water Control and Improvement Districts (WCIDs) for each lake, the WCIDs will be responsible for the debt service on the bonds issued by GBRA and for each WCID, as well as future maintenance and operations costs of the new dams. GBRA will continue to own and operate both dams, while contributing all gross revenues from the sale of hydroelectric power generated by each dam back to its respective WCID.