In 1963, GBRA purchased six hydroelectric plants from the Texas Power Corporation. This series of dams, called the Guadalupe Valley Lakes, were built between 1928 and 1932. Over time, infrastructure of these dams aged and maintenance became costly. Three of these plants are currently out of service (Meadow Lake, Lake Gonzales, and Lake Wood), one has been repaired to be fully operational (Lake Dunlap), and two are under construction (Lake McQueeney and Lake Placid).
Lake Dunlap. In 2019, Lake Dunlap spillgates failed, draining the lake. Shortly following the failure, residents along Lake Dunlap joined efforts to develop a solution to repair the dam and bring back the lake. Working closely with GBRA, residents formed the Lake Dunlap Water Control Improvement District to collect tax revenue that covers the costs of replacing the spillgates with a modern design and future repairs. In October 2023, less than five years since the failure, GBRA completed construction of the dam improvements and began generating hydroelectric power. All the revenue from the power that is being generated is provided to the District to help fund repair costs and pay back debt issued to cover construction costs.
