JuNE 19, 2023

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.

March 1, 2023

LITIGATION UPDATE

Guadalupe Valley Lakes Litigation Update

The dismissal of all claims against GBRA was made final and immediate after the Texas Supreme Court denied the plaintiffs’ petition for review in the Williams v. GBRA case, affirming the decision rendered by the Fourth Court of Appeals. The action was then remanded to the 25th Judicial District Court for further proceedings consistent with the order of the Texas Supreme Court and the 25th Judicial District Court was commanded to observe the order of the Court of Appeals for the Fourth District. Subsequently, the 25th Judicial District Court issued orders dissolving the temporary injunction, and finding that GBRA is a prevailing party and entitled to recover reasonable and necessary attorneys’ fees and court costs it incurred in defending against Plaintiffs’ claims. GBRA and the Plaintiffs have since resolved GBRA’s claim for attorneys’ fees and costs. On March 1, 2023, the Court ordered, adjudged, and decreed that all causes of action asserted by Plaintiffs against GBRA, and GBRA’s claims for attorneys’ fees and costs are dismissed with prejudice.

LAKE DUNLAP CONSTRUCTION UPDATES

April 2023

September 2022

March 2022

October 2021

JuNE 19, 2023

CONSTRUCTION BEGINS ON LAKE MCQUEENEY AND LAKE PLACID DAMS

March 1, 2023

LITIGATION UPDATE

LAKE DUNLAP CONSTRUCTION UPDATES

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