Stilling Basin Closure Won’t Affect Tubers

Recreationalists and tubers, relax.

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers officials at Canyon Lake announced on Thursday that Canyon Dam’s stilling basin will be closed to the public from Friday, May 31st through Saturday, June 8th for a routine inspection — but you won’t notice any difference.

Mike Dussere, general manager with Water Oriented Recreation District of Comal County (WORD) explains flows going through Guadalupe Blanco River Authority (GBRA) gates should have no impact on river rates.

He said flows of 350 cubic feet-per-second (cfs) are expected at the Sattler gauge.

“350 cfs is what we should be seeing and that’s a fantastic flow,” he said.

GBRA will control water releases through their hydropower station.

A temporary water-filled barrier will be installed below the stilling basin on Friday, and water will be pumped out. Work activities include the placement of a temporary water-filled dam, stilling basin water pump out, fish recovery and relocation in the river below the temporary dam, and inspection of the stilling basin.

Fish will be relocated below the temporary barrier into the Guadalupe River in accordance to Aquatic Resources Relocation Plan and permit approved by Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.

USACE will close the parking area between GBRA’s Hydropower Plant and South Access Rd.

The stilling basin reduces the velocity or turbulence of flows — “in other words, our main pipeline,” said Javier Perez Ortiz, park manager for USACE’s Canyon Lake office.

To learn more about the hydraulic design of stilling basin for pipe or channel outlets, click here.