Residents near Lake Gonzales are starting to feel the economic consequences of a dump valve failure

Gonzales, Texas – Months after the Lake Gonzales drain valve failed, a failure that essentially depleted the reservoir, people in the area are now saying they are starting to feel the consequences of its malfunction.

Mark Dunn is the owner of the Gone Fishing RV Park on Lake Gonzales. He said that since the outlet valve broke on August 3, only the water is currently depleted and the lack of water means there is no boat rental, which is less. silver. paddy field.

“It’s a huge loss of income because boating, fishing and boat rentals are gone and a lot of people come here looking for water,” Dan said.

Dan says the RV park is still open and people are camping and barbecuing, but without the lake the situation wouldn’t be the same.

Retired Gonzales County Sheriff and State Game Custodian Glenn Sachtleben say they have been dedicated to water safety and law enforcement for over 30 years and have seen how many activity was brought to the region.

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“It was really sad because it was a major source of recreation in the area, not just the locals. It drew people hundreds of kilometers away, ”Sachtleben said. paddy field.

Residents of the area used the adjacent Lakewoods, about four miles from Gonzales, as a future example of Lake Gonzales. In 2016, a similar failure of the drain valve caused the lake to collapse, and since then it has become a lush forest area.

Sachtleben said he was confident that the loss of Lake Gonzales would be felt in the years to come.

“I think the cost of the diversion and repair of the dam will be considerable, but I think the long-term costs to the community will outweigh that,” Sachtleben said.

Gonzales and neighboring communities have said their mission now is to keep the lake alive and hope the Guadalupe Blanco River authorities will cooperate in this effort.

KSAT contacted GBRA and was redirected to its website, but did not receive a response regarding plans to work with the residents of Lake Gonzales.