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Welcome
To The FOLM Website
Friends of Lake McQueeney (FOLM)
is a non-profit organization dedicated to maintaining and improving the
quality of Lake McQueeney, Texas, for the enjoyment of all those who
live, work, and play on our Lake.
This site is primarily designed for our members to access
information and news about FOLM and the
Lake, contact board members, and find useful links to other
sites that may be helpful.
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No Boating Under Damaged Treasure Island Bridge
Early on August 12th, a hole was discovered in the roadway of the Treasure Island bridge. It is approximately 3 feet in diameter and water could be seen through the hole. Currently, Guadalupe County Roads and Bridge department has installed temporary steel plates on both entrance sides to the bridge. The bridge is also now restricted to a load limit of 5,000 pounds. They did an excellent job of immediately installing temporary barriers and signs.
Immediately following the discovery of the hole, the Guadalupe Blanco River Authority placed signs in the lake on both sides of the bridge prohibiting all traffic and personnel under the bridge.
In a conversation today with Mr. Timmermann, head of the Roads and Bridge department, they are working with engineers to establish procedures and contracts to do a major repair to the bridge which will bring it up to today’s standards. This bridge is 57 years old. It is anticipated that could take approximately 3 months, however, it may be longer. There will be periods when the bridge is restricted to one-way traffic.
LAKE MCQUEENEY RESTRICTIONS LIFTED
Effective Noon, Monday, August 30, 2010, the General Manager of the Guadalupe-Blanco River Authority does hereby amend and suspend restrictions imposed on Lake Dunlap, Lake McQueeney, Lake Placid, Meadow Lake, H-4 (Lake Gonzales) and H-5 (Lake Wood) in Comal, Guadalupe and Gonzales Counties on July 15, 2010, as previously amended and suspended as follows:
-To allow the use of inflatables and other water toys effective Noon, Monday, August 30, 2010.
-To remove the limit on time of use imposed during the hours of 30 minutes after sunset to 30 minutes before sunrise effective Noon, Monday, August 30, 2010. That is, you are no longer restricted by no-wake speeds after dark. However, on any given night there can be debris in all lakes that will damage your boat if going fast. As you know, objects in the water are very difficult to see after dark, even if you are using lights. Use caution!
How Does The Flood of 2010 Compare?
GBRA reports that the water flow at the McQueeney Dam peaked at 46,000 cfs (cubic feet per second). That places the flood level above the 2004 level, approaching the 2002 level. For comparison, the 1998 flood was over 200,000 cfs. The good news is this flood was of much shorter duration than the one in 2002.
Normal water flow can range from about 200 to 5000 cfs.
Are you prepared for future flooding?
Review Your Knowledge Here
GBRA Lake Use Study
On March 27, 2010, GBRA held a public meeting to discuss the results of their "Study of Recreational Boating Use on Lakes Dunlap, McQueeney, Placid, Nolte (Meadow Lake), Gonzales (H4) & Wood (H5)". The survey was to gather data about the following:
1. Provide an overview of the modes of use; e.g., preferred activities, timing, area of use.
2. Perceptions of lake conditions; social (e.g., crowding, safety) and environmental (e.g., lake conditions, erosion, aquatic vegetation).
3. Preferences for managing recreational boating.
4. Perceived impact of recreational boating on shoreline structures/development.
Update: The Guadalupe-Blanco River Authority (GBRA) has posted the final report of the 2010 Study of Recreational Boating Use of Lakes Dunlap, McQueeney, Placid, Nolte (MeadowLake), Gonzales (H-4) & Wood (H-5) on their website, www.gbra.org.
Under the "In the Spotlight" heading on the Home page, the complete study is available for view, or for a brief recap of all the lakes combined click on "Executive Summary".
The public is invited to submit comments by clicking on "Submit Your Comment".
NBU Permits Include Nutrient Limits
Thanks to our outstanding working relationship with New Braunfels Utility (NBU), and based on their latest permit from the Texas Commission On Environmental Quality (TCEQ), they are making modifications to their two Kuehler waste water treatment plants that will lower the Phosphate levels below 3.0 and most of the time they will be closer to 2.0. This will help with the water quality coming downstream from Lake Dunlap.
After receiving new permits from TCEQ, they will also begin construction on a new waste water treatment plant on the Highway 46 side of the river just below Lake Dunlap Dam. This new plant will handle the growth on the east side of the river where major developments are taking place on the IH 35 corridor. This plant will take at least three years to come on-line but it will meet strict water quality standards with very clean effluent.
Go to our NBU Wastewater News page for more information CLICK HERE.
Public Boat Ramp Status
Every week we get emails asking about the boat ramp situation on the Lake. Since the closing of McQueeney Marina, there are currently NO public ramps or private, fee based boat ramps on Lake McQueeney. Existing boat ramps are either those that belong to various subdivisions for their residents use or ramps on private property. GBRA is looking at the situation in conjunction other state agencies as they develop their Lake Management Plan. We will post any updates on the situation as they occur.
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FOLM partners
with the Guadalupe Basin Coalition in Edwards Aquifer Recovery
Implementation Program (EARIP)
Click Here for more about
FOLM’s active role
in protecting the aquifer, our springs, river flow, and water sources.
This will be one of the most important issues
we deal with in the coming years.
FOLM
Contributes Toward McQueeney VFD Rescue Boat
See
Seguin Gazette Story
Remember
GBRA Watercraft Rules and Regulations
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The rules and regulations to the right were passed during the March 22,
2006 Guadalupe- Blanco River Authority’s Board of Directors
meeting. Representatives from theTexas Parks and Wildlife Department
(TPWD), the Guadalupe County Sheriff’s Office and Lake- Wide
Associations met with GBRA staff to consider regulations to enhance
water safety regarding the equipment and operation of towed or pulled
recreation devices; and to discuss water-safety issues in general. A
Resolution was drafted and reviewed by the TPWD, Sheriff’s
Office and the Lake-Wide Associations before being presented to the
GBRA Board. The GBRA Resolution establishes rules and regulations for
the equipment and operation of certain recreational devices referred to
as and Regulations For Lake Dunlap, Lake McQueeney, Lake Placid, Lake
Nolte (Meadow Lake), Lake H-4 (Lake Gonzales) and Lake H-5 (Lake Wood)
in Comal, Guadalupe and Gonzales counties.
Special Traffic Rules For
Treasure Island Bridge
GBRA has also established
“traffic lanes” under the Treasure Island Bridge.
Click the link below to see the map that shows the
“lanes” for boats and PWCs passing under the
bridge. Any jet ski (PWC) passing under the bridge will be at a no wake
speed. Signage will also be posted on the bridge to designate lanes.
Fishing, stopping or anchoring within
100 feet of the bridge is prohibited. The towing of tubes or
other inflatables is prohibited under the bridge.
See
Map of Traffic Lanes
GBRA's Resolution plus other
Resolutions currently in place can be found on the GBRA website, www.gbra.org,
under Lake Management.
Note: GBRA has
restricted traffic upstream by PWC's (jet skis and wave runners) from
the powerhouse across from the Bandit to the Dunlap Dam. See here
for more details.
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- Fixed Ramps, Rails Prohibited
The
installation of fixed ramps, rails, or other devices for the use of
riding or sliding with a wake-board is prohibited.
- Wakesurfing Prohibited
The use of a motor powered boat or PWC to create a wake for use of a
surfboard will be classified as a hazardous wake, and is prohibited. It
is the intent of this restriction to recognize the limited size and
narrow features of the referenced lakes, and the destructive shoreline
affect resulting from a hazardous wake that is required for surfing.
- Hazardous Wake Prohibited
The intentional use, modification, or operation of a motor powered boat
or PWC to create a wake will be classified as a hazardous wake if the
wake exceeds the level necessary for utilization for recreation, or
causes a wave action that will damage shoreline property and is
prohibited.
- Towing or Pulling of
Inflatables
A motor powered boat or PWC towing or pulling of an inflatable device,
or other devise known as a “water-toy” herein
referred to as “inflatable” that is attached by
rope or other method to a motor powered boat or PWC must be operated so
that the motor powered boat or PWC AND the
“inflatable” maintain a minimum distance of 50 feet
from another vessel, the shoreline, or a fixed structure at all times,
except when operating at head-way speed. This regulation does not apply
to an operator or individual pulling or towing a skier or wake-boarder
utilizing a hand-held rope or lanyard.
Violations of these
regulations is a Class C misdemeanor and is punishable by a fine of $25
to $500.
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Setback Constructing Control Dam
The very important Dry Comal Creek flood retardation dam, called the Krueger Canyon Dam, is in delay again. The Comal County Commissioner's Court has once again experienced a contract delay beyond their control. Major modifications, thus costs increases, resulted in their primary contractor asking to opt out of their contract, and now the Court needs to find a new contractor. The problem here is they are looking at a deadline of about a year from now for major construction to be completed in order to get Federal funding.
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Click on the links to the left or above to explore
the site. If you have any suggestions for useful additions to this
site, please go to:
Contact
FOLM
Have some fun pictures (old or new) you want to
share?
If they are related to Lake McQueeney, contact Rick Thelen via the contact page. We will
try to put new pictures on the site from time to time to keep it
interesting.
email address:
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