Dam project near Mo-Ranch draw scrutiny

A potential dam project on a west Kerr County creek that runs parallel to the Guadalupe River near Mo-Ranch is stirring up controversy, and it’s one mainly ignored until the last two weeks.

The project, located on private property along Flatrock Creek, calls for a 4-and-half-foot impoundment dam that would serve as a low-water crossing. Still, the property owner needed to file a sand and gravel removal permit.

It’s gained the attention of Hunt residents, who are concerned the dam could impact the Guadalupe River downstream. And those residents raised concerns about the dam with 53rd District Rep. Andy Murr, who asked the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department to extend the comments period about the project.

The property owner, Bill Lane, asked for a sand and gravel permit in April and filed a public notice in The Kerrville Daily Times. In the filing, Lane’s Flat Rock Creek Ranch, LLC said the dam would stretch 170 feet across the creek. The amount of sand and gravel removed is 15 cubic yards — about 17 tons of material. There are at least three dams on the creek now, including one just downstream before the creek merges with the north form of the Guadalupe.

The project stirred up opposition, with residents sharing pamphlets saying, “no dam on the North Fork.” Whether it’s actually on the north fork of the Guadalupe River is debatable, and because it’s on private property, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality didn’t review the proposal.

Murr’s involvement helped push the comment period back to Aug. 1, but the controversy is unlikely to subside.