THE LAKE WATCH
WWW.PLDA.ORG
 JUNE 2006

SHARE THE PASSION…

Lake Dunlap Needs You Today - for Tomorrow

Lake Dunlap needs your membership today in the Preserve Lake Dunlap Association (PLDA) so that tomorrow there will still be a Lake Dunlap. The present as well as the future welfare of our lake has never been more endangered with water rapidly becoming Texas’s most precious commodity.

Expanded water demands far beyond current capacity have been generated by uncontrolled population growth and accelerated urbanization in the Guadalupe River Basin and on the Edwards Aquifer specifically in Bexar, Comal, Hays, Kendall, and Kerr counties. Guadalupe Blanco River Authority (GBRA) is now permitted to export 90,000 acre feet annually out of Canyon Lake. Flow into Canyon Lake is currently less than flow out of Canyon Lake. The Edwards Aquifer is rapidly approaching 650 feet, which will result in mandatory water restrictions, while both the Comal and San Marcos springs’ flow are far below normal averages for this time of year.

On June 14th, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) approved New Braunfels Utilities’ (NBU) third permit for the release of uncontrolled phosphors and nitrogen in NBU’s treated waste water into the Guadalupe River and Lake Dunlap. These three permits will allow NBU to release 10 million gallons per day of treated waste water with uncontrolled phosphors and nitrogen.

PLDA has been challenging NBU’s permits since late 2001 with a series of legal activities, which have been costly. These legal fees have been shared with Lakes McQueeney and Placid. While TCEQ has renewed all three plants’ permits, TCEQ did direct that a two-year study be conducted at Lake Dunlap to determine the actual long-term impact of NBU’s current nutrient standard. PLDA now needs additional funding from new membership dues to continue to force TCEQ to develop, staff, implement, and enforce nutrient standards to protect water quality standards applicable to the remaining water left in the lower Guadalupe River Basin.

Earlier this year, FEMA released new flood maps applicable to
Guadalupe County, raising the old flood zones as much as 10 feet above the 1998 flood water level. In a series of PLDA meetings with Lakes McQueeney and Placid, an engineering firm was contracted to challenge FEMA’s new flood zones. Fortunately, a PLDA board member had the education and proven engineering experience to make that challenge through Guadalupe County officials without the expense of an
independent engineering firm. That is just one example of PLDA working for you to protect your property values by returning Lake Dunlap’s flood zones back to their original pre-1998 levels.

The nuisance weeds (Valsenaria and Hygrophilla) originating in Comal Springs and Landa Lake still remain a serious safety hazard. PLDA has already conducted meetings with New Braunfels Parks & Recreation Department to examine the old weed extraction equipment. Repair estimates will be forthcoming for the repair of the extraction equipment. PLDA will need funding from membership dues to bring this problem to conclusion.

Starting late 2005 and earlier in 2006, PLDA coordinated with Lake McQueeney, Lake Placid, Green Lake, Guadalupe County Sheriff’s Department, and GBRA to develop new standard safety rules applicable to all four lakes. Lakes Dunlap, McQueeney, and Placid have agreed to each donate $5,000 for the purchase of a second patrol boat for the Guadalupe County Sheriff’s Department.

Membership has its privileges

Membership has its privileges, but more importantly membership has its responsibilities, which include protecting Lake Dunlap’s present as well as future water quality, protecting Lake Dunlap’s property values, and protecting the safety of all who enjoy the water wonders of Lake Dunlap.

We believe Lake Dunlap needs PLDA ….. and PLDA needs you!

Share the passion and join today!

Entire June Newsletter is available: June 2006 .pdf
If you have Adobe® Acrobat® Reader®, you will be able to view the newsletter immediately. Adobe Acrobat Reader is available for free at www.adobe.com.