Citizens United for Lake Placid

04/22/2026

GBRA has scheduled gate load testing for lake placid on Thursday April 23, 2026.

See the attached notification for additional information

02/27/2026

02/13/2026

See the February 12 dam project summary

Lake Placid Dam February Project Summary/Water Impoundment to Begin
Date of Report: February 12, 2026
Recent Activities:
Since the last Report on January 9, 2026 —
1. Connection of the hydraulic cylinders to the gate and flushing and pressure testing of hydraulics in Bay 1was completed.
2. Pre-testing of the gate in Bay 1 was completed.
3. The Bay 1 side seal 2nd stage concrete was completed.
4. The work bridge was removed from the river.
5. Permanent power was connected.
6. The boat ramp and turn around at the Dam was completed.
7. The maintenance bridge handrails, ladders and stairs were completed.
8. Functional testing of the gates continued.
9. Maintenance bridge finishes continued.
10. Installation of electrical and instrumentation in the Powerhouse continued.
11. Concrete armoring and roadway work on the north embankment continued.
Change Orders:
No Change Order activity since the January 9, 2026, Project Summary.
Schedule/Impoundment Update:
Schedule: The revised Substantial Completion Date is February 16, 2026. It was reported that the extension of time was due to intermittent communication issues during testing with the emergency generator. The testing of communications between the control center at GBRA in Seguin and the local equipment on site at the Dam is part of the functional testing required by the Contract specifications (in addition to testing the raising and lowering of the gates). Successful completion of the functional testing is required before impoundment can commence. Sundt is hopeful that impoundment will begin on February 16, 2026.
Impoundment: It has been assumed the commencement of impoundment would involve completely raising both gates and then capturing all of the river flow available. However, due to the existence of both downstream water rights and downstream environmental considerations, only a portion of the river flow will be impounded at the Dam and some water will continue downstream. Therefore, the gates will be raised incrementally over the coming weeks to allow some river flow to pass over the new gates and accommodate the downstream water rights and environmental considerations. The amount of time that will be required to completely fill the lake to its normal operating level (defined as 497.5 feet above mean sea level at Lake Placid Dam) is a function of spring flow and other weather-related conditions. GBRA and engineers estimate it could take up to eight (8) weeks to fill the lake to its normal operating level, and possibly longer depending upon river/weather conditions.
NOTE: Based on current information, we expect impoundment to commence on February 16, 2026. After impounding water to fill Lake Placid to its normal operating level, there is no plan to drain the Lake, and then again refill the Lake to its normal operating level.
Upcoming:
In the next several weeks, we expect (1) water impoundment will occur at Lake Placid Dam; (2) the Gantry crane and conductor rail will be installed; (3) downstream riprap adjacent to the concrete embankments will be grouted; (4) clean-up of the work site and shape up of concrete on embankments; (5) installation of permanent fencing and gates; and (6) installation of topsoil and seed at the work site.
Substantial Completion Date: February 16, 2026
NOTICE
Based on the revised Substantial Completion Date announced by the contractor, as of this Report approximately four (4) days remain until we can expect water impoundment to begin at Lake Placid (i.e. February 16, 2026).
(1) Temporary docks, platforms and structures that have been placed at or below the normal operating level of Lake Placid on or in proximity to the riverbed (since October 2021) must be removed prior to the Substantial Completion Date. Do not simply abandon these structures with the expectation that they will remain on the riverbed or float away when the water impoundment begins. They will not. Items left in the riverbed will become hazards that will impact the safety of everyone who uses and seeks to enjoy the waterway; and
(2) Waterfront property owners along Lake Placid are reminded and encouraged to abate and remove all woody vegetation from the waterway in front of their property.
Once water is impounded behind Lake Placid Dam, removal of these items will become very challenging, if not impossible.
Note: The normal operating level of Lake Placid is defined as 497.5 feet above mean sea level at Lake Placid Dam, which is the historical operating water level.

02/13/2026

Exciting News for the Lake Placid Community!
CULP is thrilled to announce that construction of the Lake Placid dam is nearing completion! This is an exciting milestone for all of us. While the lake will not return to full pool overnight, we can now look forward to watching the water rise steadily over the coming weeks.
Per the February 12, 2026, construction meeting, the revised substantial completion date is February 16, 2026, the plan is to continue testing the gates and raise them gradually—just inches at a time, anticipated beginning on February 16th. Under current conditions, GBRA will need to release about half of the existing streamflow, which means the refill process will likely take up to 8 weeks if conditions remain consistent. Please keep in mind that spring flow feeding the Guadalupe is currently very low and may decline further without additional rainfall, which could extend the refill timeline.
Our lake community has done a tremendous job clearing debris and removing overgrown vegetation—thank you for all your hard work. If you have not yet completed your cleanup, please know that time is running out. Temporary docks, stairs, and structures must be dismantled and removed from the riverbed immediately.
Likewise, any remaining debris or vegetation from your cleanup must be hauled away or burned right away. Please do not leave anything in the riverbed where it can wash downstream to neighbors’ properties or—worse—into our newly constructed dam.
And now… finally!
This is a truly exciting moment for the Lake Placid community as we celebrate the completion of our new dam. We’ve all been through so much over the past several years, and now we can take a breath, relax a bit, and enjoy watching our beloved lake come back to life.
Looking forward to seeing all my friends and neighbors out on the water soon!

Bill Fisher,

01/16/2026

See the drone footage linked below of Lake Placid

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1C7LL8u4TP/

10/08/2025

TO THE LAKE PLACID COMMUNITY

CULP and GBRA have some very exciting news for all the Lake Placid property owners.

As part of the lake’s restoration, GBRA has secured ~100 native Guadalupe Bald Cypress trees that have been growing from seeds at a nursery for the past couple of years and now are 2-3 feet tall and have been potted in ~1-gallon buckets for use at Lake Placid. GBRA would like to avail the trees to property owners along the lake and will attend the CULP annual meeting on Saturday October 18th at 9:30 am at Lake Breeze to distribute these native Guadalupe Cypress tresses to property owners.

This is an excellent opportunity to plant or replant any of the cypress trees that may have been lost due to the drought and prolonged lack of water in our beautiful lake and is a very generous gesture from GBRA to our community.

This is yet again another good reason to attend the CULP annual meeting. Trees are available on a first come basis so please plan on attending.

CULP Board and GBRA

10/06/2025

Lake Placid Community

The Citizens United For Lake Placid's annual meeting and election is set for Saturday October 18th at the Lake Breeze Ski Lodge. The meeting will begin at 9:30am.

Please make your plans to attend.

CULP Board

08/04/2025

LAKE PLACID WATERFRONT COMMUNITY

According to the notes from the July 2025 engineering construction meeting held on July 10, 2025, and attended by Keith Strimple of the Lake Placid WCID, the substantial completion of our new dam is, the Substantial Completion date for the Lake Placid Dam project is September 17, 2025. It is important to note that the Substantial Completion date does not consider the time needed to impound water to Lake Placid nor the final testing of the gates (as the lake must be full to conduct the final testing). Sundt expects impoundment to commence immediately following the Substantial Completion date for testing.
We are now looking at 45 days or so to get your lake front cleaned up and ready to enjoy.
Many of our lake front community have made temporary improvements such as docks and stairs and where clearing has occurred there are burn piles. The very last thing our lake front community needs is for any more of these structure / piles to break loose and impede the operations of our new dam as they begin testing the dam and ultimately filling Laker Placid. As a key reminder, any debris removal by Sundt or damage to the dam gates will result in change orders to the contract and increase construction costs to US. I for one feel we are already paying enough for the luxury of a new dam and the return of our beautiful lake, and this is one additional cost that we as lake front property owners can collectively control and avoid.

Do You Like What Your Lake Front Looks Like Today????

If You Do Nothing It Will Look the Same and You Will Not Be Able to Truly Appreciate Our Beautiful Filled Lake!!!!
This sounds like a broken record, but I am going to say it one more time, each waterfront property owner needs to assess the area of their lake front and remove the grown-up vegetation which will impede your access to the lake. All Temporary docks/stairs/structures must be dismantled and removed from the riverbed prior to the substantial completion date of September 17, 2025.

Grown up vegetation / debris resulting from your clean up must be hauled away or burned. Do not just leave it in the riverbed to be washed down stream to your neighbors or worse into our newly constructed dam which may impede testing and full impoundment.
If you wait until the water levels begin to rise it will be impossible to address these issues.
To quote one lake front property owner “After everything that we have gone through thus far and how much we are all paying to get the lake back, let’s get the job over the finish line”
This has to be a community effort by all the lakefront property owners. If you have neighbors who cannot clean up vegetation for health reasons or due to their age, help them out. Contact your property owner’s association or any CULP Board member to assist in the marshaling of potential resources to assist those neighbors in need.

The CULP Board