Lake Dunlap Dam Update

• The dam at Lake Dunlap nears completion, and it’s been a long road:
  • The Day of the Incident
  • How the Community Reacted
  • The Work Has Begun

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In 2019, the Lake Dunlap Dam failed, but the lake is expected to make a grand return this June! Residents of Lake Dunlap — and many other lakes along the Guadalupe River — faced insurmountable adversity in their struggle to reclaim the lake. From elections to multi-million-dollar loans, this story illustrates the resolve of one community to save their lake.

The Morning of May 14, 2019

Imagine this: it’s a beautiful, sunny morning on Lake Dunlap, and the water is smooth as it’s always been — thanks to the dam. As you step out to your back lawn, nothing is out of the ordinary. But then, the water changes in an instant. A loud thud booms in the distance as the spill gate flies into the air, and the water quickly pulls away from the shore. This disaster, the spill gate failure, is what the residents of Lake Dunlap woke up to on May 14, 2019, and this devastating blow shook the community.

GBRA experienced a spillgate failure Tuesday morning, May 14. This video shows the precise moment the middle gate collapsed resulting in the dewatering of Lake Dunlap. GBRA will provide periodic updates regarding recreational, safety or water supply issues. pic.twitter.com/xqRTlTNgg9

— Guadalupe-Blanco River Authority (@GBRATX) May 15, 2019

Life changed in an instant for the people here, but they would not be alone. After the failure of one century-old dam, the Guadalupe Brazos River Authority (GBRA) swiftly moved to investigate other similar dams along the river — Placid, McQueeney, and Meadowlake. Residents were just as quick with their response.

The Community’s Reaction

When the GBRA moved to drain other lakes out of fear of further damage, residents widely rebuked them. Not only do high water levels allow for lake recreation, but a lake home’s value is intrinsically tied to the lake’s consistent and robust water levels. Instead, homeowners followed Lake Dunlap’s lead. Before the incident at Lake Dunlap, there was another dam failure on nearby Lake Wood, and the state responded neither quickly nor adequately. Homeowners saw to it that Lake Dunlap would not befall the same fate, and so they began talks with the state, New Braunfels, and the GBRA.

Residents needed a way to involve themselves in the project and take the initiative in ensuring the dam’s refurbishment. On November 3, 2020, residents voted and established the Lake Dunlap Water Control and Improvement District (LDWCID or WCID) to assist in the building, maintenance, and operation of the dam. Today, several lake communities in the area have a WCID of their own.

Naturally, one of the board’s first moves was to find funds for the repairs. The same day that the WCID was implemented, residents voted on whether or not to employ ad valorem taxes — taxes based on property values. While a step in the right direction, the people of Lake Dunlap would need more money upfront to afford repairs. Following an endorsement of support from the City Council of New Braunfels, the Texas Water Development Board permitted a loan of $40 million for Lake Dunlap Dam’s reconstruction. Finally, residents had what they needed, but the real work had not yet begun, and the road ahead is long.

Work Has Begun

Two years later — 731 days after the break — work on fixing the Lake Dunlap Dam began on May 14, 2021. Despite the tragedy that befell the community, there is something poetic and beautiful about the resilience of the people here and the date when repairs started. When the GBRA opened the project up to bidding, they had to find a company that could fulfill building requirements within an estimated $32.5 million budget, with the rest going towards contingency, specialized, and fiscal services.

Keeping things local, the GBRA decided to contract a civil engineering firm of “dreamers and builders” called Zachry Construction Corporation. Zachry has since acquired several materials, such as ultramodern spill gates, from SteelFab in Massachusetts. The concrete work required in the river channel to install spill gates is complete and substantial progress has been made in improving structural integrity. A large hydraulic cylinder sits between the piers to operate the gate, and the thickened size allows Zachry to construct a bridge for future maintenance. The most recent information has concluded the dam can ensure current lake levels and passing floodwater. With the bulk of the work and bureaucratic formalities finalized, Zachry expects to complete Lake Dunlap Dam by June 23, 2023.

After three long years and a worldwide pandemic, residents will finally have their lake back. When Lake Dunlap Dam is complete and refurbished with modern functionalities, residents will rest easy knowing that the lake isn’t going anywhere.