(Seguin) — The lakes have been saved — at least for now. That’s according to attorneys following today’s settlement agreement for a temporary injunction hearing on the dewatering of area lakes.
Keeping folks off the water will be key to this agreement. Both sides will be working to get expert advice on the condition of the dams throughout the Guadalupe Valley.
The judge also tentatively set a trial date for one year from now. That means the lakes appear to be safe for at least another year, while GBRA and the the plantiffs from both suits work to reach a consensus on the safety of the dams and a pathway forward.
GBRA released a statement explaining what it believed was included in the settlement:
The dams forming the Guadalupe Valley Lakes remain in dire need of replacement, having surpassed their useful life at more than 90 years old. The settlement in the Guadalupe Valley Lakes litigation helps the Guadalupe-Blanco River Authority achieve its immediate priority of ensuring the safety of those on and around the lakes while simultaneously continuing to work collaboratively with key stakeholders to preserve their long-term sustainability. This temporary injunction will allow all parties to continue to work together to identify a solution and funding for the necessary replacement of the dams. While GBRA will work closely with law enforcement officials to enforce activity restrictions, it is of the utmost importance that the community adhere to the limitations and continue to respect all restrictions until a long-term solution can be reached.
Settlement Details
• GBRA and the plaintiffs in the Guadalupe Valley Lakes litigation have agreed to a settlement of a temporary injunction that prevents the lakes from being dewatered for 12 months while creating additional assurances to prioritize the safety of those on and around the lakes
• As part of the settlement, a panel of three experts will be appointed to decide what, if any, areas of each lake would be safe for activity given the compromised nature of the dams
• GBRA and the plaintiffs will each appoint an expert to the panel – those two experts will then select a third-party expert to assist with the effort, creating the panel of three
• The panel will be appointed and have 30 days to determine what zones, if any, are safe for activity. The panel will have the opportunity to extend this window by an additional 30 days
• Lakes will be closed to all activity beginning Thursday, Sept. 19, until the panel has reached a decision on what areas, if any, are safe for activity
• Professional law enforcement, acting as lake patrol, will be added to enforce the restrictions on each lake
• GBRA will partner with law enforcement officials to ensure the enforcement of the lake restrictions