The Here and Now: Boerne City Lake and Other Flood Control Structures

In the mid-1930s, Congress began looking at ways to complement the downstream flood control program of the Corps of Engineers. It passed flood control acts in 1936, 1944, and 1954 and assigned responsibility of the Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Program to the USDA Soil Conservation Service, now the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS).

Since that time, NRCS has assisted watershed sponsors in construction of nearly 2,000 floodwater retarding structures in 145 watershed projects across Texas. The dams in the 21st Congressional District provide $7.8 million in annual benefits, as well as capturing 370,000 tons of sediment annually. Nearly 400 bridges and numerous county, state and federal roads are also protected. There are 26 constructed watershed dams in 6 watershed projects in the 21st Congressional District.

Kendall County residents, city officials, government agencies and anyone who had an interest in learning about flood control structures gathered for an informational presentation at Boerne City Lake on October 16, 2009.

State Representative for District 73, Doug Miller, and Boerne Mayor, Dan Heckler welcomed guest and provided opening remarks.

“Water is going to be one of the most critical issues we have to face in the state of Texas,” Miller said, “it is the single factor that will limit our state and we have to have the quality that can take care of our growing population.”

Boerne Lake has been described by some as a solid step forward in the direction of conservation, and Miller pledged his support for the structures and all of their components. Dusty Burns, Kendall Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) Chairman, offered participants an introduction to the site and how it came to be, starting with the Upper Cibolo Watershed Program.

Burns noted that the four flood prevention structures within the county are impacted by climate, weather, location, and the water quality itself.

“Construction for this site (Boerne Lake) began in July of 1976 and was completed in January of 1978,” Burns said, “with the completion of the structure, including the spillways and dams, sponsors then had to be found.”

The annual operation and maintenance of dams and their components is the responsibility of project sponsors (local units of government, usually conservation districts, city and county governments, and special purpose districts). Operation and maintenance of watershed dams can be expensive and labor intensive, but is necessary to ensure the dams function as designed and remain safe. Maintenance work includes clearing trees from dams and spillways, repairing soil erosion damage, repairing damages after heavy storm events, and keeping the principal spillway inlet clear of debris.

There are 13 dams in the 21st Congressional District that are over 40 years old, and 9 dams that are 30-39 years old. The majority of this area was in a rural setting when the watershed projects were planned. Conversion from agricultural to urban land use has taken place and is intensifying. Many dams originally constructed as low hazard are now classified as high hazard, or will soon be high hazard as a result of downstream urbanization.

Rehabilitation of these dams is needed to protect lives and downstream property. Twenty-five dams in the 21st Congressional District are classified as high hazard dams. Eight of these dams need to be upgraded to high hazard criteria, at an estimated cost of $12 million, including $4.2 million in sponsor’s cost.

Kendall County SWCD is one of the three sponsors for Boerne Lake. Ryan Bass, Watershed Coordinator for the City of Boerne, was next in the line of speakers with the Watershed Protection Plan (WPP) and information about the local stakeholders meeting. The stakeholders meeting will be held in Boerne on November 10 and the protection plan will be covered in detail. This meeting will allow residents a time and place to express their ideas, identify problems and discuss possible solutions.

The NRCS had two Kendall County representatives on site to deliver a message about the conservation efforts needed to safeguard flood control structures. Levi Tibbs, district conservationist, and Mark Moseley, range specialist discussed the results of a study conducted at the Sonora AgriLife Experiment Station.

The study showed how much water an Ashe juniper could block and/or consume that would never reach the water table. Along with the study, they used a rainfall simulator to show the effects of improper grazing and how top soil ends up in Boerne Lake.

This informational event was sponsored by several local organizations including: Kendall SWCD, City of Boerne, Kendall NRCS, Alamo Resource Conservation and Development Area, Texas AgriLife Extension Service and the Association of Texas Soil and Water Conservation Districts.

For additional information about the Boerne Lake or other flood control structures contact the Kendall NRCS at 830-249-2821 or visit them at 39350 I-10 West Boerne, Texas.

Fig. 1- 21st Congressional District.
Kendall SWCD Chairman Dusty Bruns presenting to the attendants of the Boerne City Lake informational presentation.	Levi Tibbs, NRCS, (center) explaining the results of a brush management study and conservation efforts for proper grazing.
Representative Doug Miller and Mayor Dan Heckler gave the opening message at the Boerne City Lake informational presentation.