Comal County officials reacted swiftly Friday after a member of a volunteer dive team told a TV news reporter the bodies of those still missing after July 4 flash flooding will start showing up in the Guadalupe River west of Canyon Lake.
Rumors were already swirling that divers required “special precautions or inoculations before entering the water” when Steven Bishop with Blue Dive Search and Recovery told a KENS5 news crew Thursday, “There is going to be a lot of stuff moved downstream. That’s where, unfortunately, the deceased will start coming up.”
In a statement on Facebook, Comal County said the “volunteer group” operating in the area had no official involvement or affiliation with the Texas Division of Emergency Management’s (TDEM) command center in Kerrville. There are no authorized search-and-rescue operations underway on Canyon Lake.
Task Force 1, the only authorized search-and-rescue team, is actively working on the Upper Guadalupe River from Canyon Lake to the Comal/Kendall County line.
Comal County spokesperson Cary Zayas warned residents not every “search-and-rescue” team is who they claim to be, and that scam donation pages are circulating.
“We’re really proud of this community’s compassion, but let’s make sure it’s paired with caution,” she said.
WORD of Comal County, which issues permits, collects fees, and manages two of Canyon Lake’s largest lakeside parks and boat ramps, said the water in Canyon Lake was thoroughly tested at two locations and found to be safe.
“We have not received any official notifications from regulatory or health agencies about confirmed contamination or related health risks in Canyon Lake,” WORD said. “Water testing falls under the jurisdiction of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ). As of today, no alerts or advisories have been issued to us from TCEQ or any other state agency.”
WORD said the water in Canyon Lake was tested for E. coli, the most common bacterial contaminant after a flood. Samples were drawn from one deepwater point and one shallow-water point.
The tests came back at four parts per 100 milliliters and three parts per 100 milliliters, respectively, well below the thresholds.
“Canyon Lake is a natural, live body of water, and like all natural waters, it can contain bacteria, wildlife waste, and other environmental elements,” WORD said. “Always swim at your own risk and follow water-safety guidelines.”
Before Saturday’s announcement by Kerr County officials that only three victims are still unaccounted for, many Canyon Lake residents took to social media to complain that officials weren’t concerned enough about water quality, debris, and possible bodies in the lake.
Find out about Canyon Lake safety before you go in. Note: this is my first comment about Canyon Lake. You are your own person let that be your guide.