Estimated read time: 1-2 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
SALT LAKE CITY — Springtime often brings the risk of flooding. Many areas here in Utah are on alert as melting snow threatens to overwhelm rivers.
A new video from Texas shows just how intense it can be when water runs amuck. Posted by the Guadalupe-Blanco River Authority (GBRA), the footage shows the moment a spillgate collapsed on Lake Dunlap.
According to a statement the GBRA posted on Facebook, the dam at Lake Dunlap was 91 years old. Once it failed, the reservoir drained; the immense loss of water will affect towns in the region.
“We recognize the value of Lake Dunlap to the community," said GBRA General Manager Kevin Patteson. "GBRA is committed to finding a solution to replace the spillgates at all of our aging dams. The ability to move forward with construction at Lake Dunlap, Lake Wood and the other dams is dependent on securing funding for these multi-year, multi-million dollar projects.”
Because it will cost approximately $15 to $35 million to update each dam, the GBRA is seeking state and federal funding. In the meantime, the video serves as a stark reminder of the dangers posed by spring runoff. Grant Olsen joined the KSL.com team in 2012. He covers outdoor adventures, travel, product reviews and other interesting things. He is also the author of the book "Rhino Trouble." You can contact him at www.grant-olsen.com.
