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Canyon Lake (Texas)
Encyclopedia
Canyon Lake is a reservoir
on the Guadalupe River
in the Texas Hill Country
in the United States
. Canyon Lake is a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reservoir formed on the Guadalupe River in Comal County
by Canyon Dam
, which is located about sixteen miles northwest of New Braunfels
. The dam, lake, and all adjacent property are managed by the U.S. Army Corps Of Engineers. Water rights, waste water treatment, and hydroelectric generating facilities are managed by the Guadalupe-Blanco River Authority
. Construction of the dam began in 1958 and was completed in 1964. The reservoir serves to provide flood control and water conservation for the communities downstream from the dam. The lake is also a popular recreational destination.
Canyon Lake is located at 29°52′53"N 98°14′24"W. It is located in northern Comal County
, Texas
, about 35 mi (56 km) northeast of San Antonio
and 40 mi (64 km) southwest of Austin
. Towns in the immediate vicinity of the lake include former city Canyon City, Hancock, Fischer, Sattler, Startzville and a census-designated place
known as Canyon Lake, Texas
. Larger towns nearby include New Braunfels
and San Marcos
.
, can carry only 13,000-30,000 cubic feet per second (400 – 800 m³/s). This has led to serious flooding in the lower Guadalupe River Basin, including a major flood in New Braunfels in 1972 which was caused by heavy rains just downstream from Canyon Dam.
Canyon Dam protected downstream areas from major floods in 1978, 1987, 1991, 1992 and 1998. A record flood in July 2002 overtopped the spillway
by more than seven feet (2 m) and caused significant damage below Canyon Dam.
In the 2002 flood, the peak flow was about 70,000 cubic feet per second (2,000 m³/s). The amount of water that flowed over the spillway was about 3½ times the amount of water that the reservoir holds. Erosion over the course of three days tore away soil to reveal what is now the Canyon Lake Gorge
.
downstream from New Braunfels, and for municipal water supply, irrigation, and industrial uses. GBRA built a hydroelectric facility at Canyon Dam in August 1987; it was put into service in February 1989.
Canyon Lake is a center for recreation in the area. The Corps of Engineers built and maintains eight park areas around the lake for camping, swimming, boating and picnicking. Comal County also provides several boat ramps for access to the lake.
Hike, bike and equestrian trails are available, as is limited hunting (archery only).
Bank fishing is available in all park areas, and a 24 hour fishing dock can be found in Cranes Mill Park on the south side of the lake.
regions have raised concerns that the lake will fall well below the established conservation pool level, potentially causing problems ranging from erosion
and weakening of Canyon Dam to a decline in property values and possible health issues from the exposure of long-submerged land. This has led to several administrative actions and lawsuits over the future of the lake.
Reservoir
A reservoir , artificial lake or dam is used to store water.Reservoirs may be created in river valleys by the construction of a dam or may be built by excavation in the ground or by conventional construction techniques such as brickwork or cast concrete.The term reservoir may also be used to...
on the Guadalupe River
Guadalupe River (Texas)
The Guadalupe River runs from Kerr County, Texas to San Antonio Bay on the Gulf of Mexico. The river is a popular destination for rafters and canoers. Larger cities along the river include New Braunfels, Kerrville, Seguin, Gonzales, Cuero, and Victoria...
in the Texas Hill Country
Texas Hill Country
The Texas Hill Country is a vernacular term applied to a region of Central Texas featuring tall rugged hills consisting of thin layers of soil atop limestone or granite. It also includes the Llano Uplift and the second largest granite monadnock in the United States, Enchanted Rock, which is located...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Canyon Lake is a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reservoir formed on the Guadalupe River in Comal County
Comal County, Texas
Comal County is a county located on the Edwards Plateau in the U.S. state of Texas. In 2010, its population was 108,472. Its seat is New Braunfels.Comal County is part of the San Antonio Metropolitan Statistical Area.-History Timeline:...
by Canyon Dam
Canyon Dam
The Canyon Dam in Texas is a rolled-earth dam on the Guadalupe River in the Hill Country. The water impounded by the dam forms Canyon Lake.-Geography:...
, which is located about sixteen miles northwest of New Braunfels
New Braunfels, Texas
New Braunfels is a city in Comal and Guadalupe counties in the U.S. state of Texas that is a principal city of the metropolitan area. Braunfels means "brown rock" in German; the city is named for Braunfels, in Germany. The city's population was 57,740 as of the 2010 census, up 58% from the 2000...
. The dam, lake, and all adjacent property are managed by the U.S. Army Corps Of Engineers. Water rights, waste water treatment, and hydroelectric generating facilities are managed by the Guadalupe-Blanco River Authority
Guadalupe-Blanco River Authority
The Guadalupe-Blanco River Authority or GBRA was formed in 1933 by the Texas legislature. Its main concerns are water supply and water conservation in the Guadalupe River Basin, which includes the Blanco, Comal, and San Marcos rivers. The authority extends over ten counties...
. Construction of the dam began in 1958 and was completed in 1964. The reservoir serves to provide flood control and water conservation for the communities downstream from the dam. The lake is also a popular recreational destination.
Geography
Comal County, Texas
Comal County is a county located on the Edwards Plateau in the U.S. state of Texas. In 2010, its population was 108,472. Its seat is New Braunfels.Comal County is part of the San Antonio Metropolitan Statistical Area.-History Timeline:...
, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
, about 35 mi (56 km) northeast of San Antonio
San Antonio, Texas
San Antonio is the seventh-largest city in the United States of America and the second-largest city within the state of Texas, with a population of 1.33 million. Located in the American Southwest and the south–central part of Texas, the city serves as the seat of Bexar County. In 2011,...
and 40 mi (64 km) southwest of Austin
Austin, Texas
Austin is the capital city of the U.S. state of :Texas and the seat of Travis County. Located in Central Texas on the eastern edge of the American Southwest, it is the fourth-largest city in Texas and the 14th most populous city in the United States. It was the third-fastest-growing large city in...
. Towns in the immediate vicinity of the lake include former city Canyon City, Hancock, Fischer, Sattler, Startzville and a census-designated place
Census-designated place
A census-designated place is a concentration of population identified by the United States Census Bureau for statistical purposes. CDPs are delineated for each decennial census as the statistical counterparts of incorporated places such as cities, towns and villages...
known as Canyon Lake, Texas
Canyon Lake, Texas
Canyon Lake is a census-designated place in Comal County, Texas, United States. The population was 16,870 at the 2000 census. It is part of the San Antonio Metropolitan Statistical Area....
. Larger towns nearby include New Braunfels
New Braunfels, Texas
New Braunfels is a city in Comal and Guadalupe counties in the U.S. state of Texas that is a principal city of the metropolitan area. Braunfels means "brown rock" in German; the city is named for Braunfels, in Germany. The city's population was 57,740 as of the 2010 census, up 58% from the 2000...
and San Marcos
San Marcos, Texas
San Marcos is a city in the U.S. state of Texas, and is the seat of Hays County. Located within the metropolitan area, the city is located on the Interstate 35 corridor—between Austin and San Antonio....
.
History
Construction of Canyon Dam began in 1958 to provide both flood control and water conservation. Impoundment of the lake began in 1964, and the lake was filled to its conservation level in 1968.Flood protection
Flood protection is provided for nearly 250 square miles (647 km²) of land downstream from Canyon Dam. The canyons of the upper Guadalupe River have a capacity to carry 40,000 - 50,000 cubic feet per second (1,100 - 1,400 m³/s) ; however, the channel on the lower Guadalupe River, downstream from the Balcones EscarpmentBalcones Fault
The Balcones Fault Zone is a tensional structural system in Texas that runs approximately from the southwest part of the state near Del Rio to the north central region near Waco along Interstate 35. The Balcones Fault zone is made up of many smaller features, including normal faults, grabens, and...
, can carry only 13,000-30,000 cubic feet per second (400 – 800 m³/s). This has led to serious flooding in the lower Guadalupe River Basin, including a major flood in New Braunfels in 1972 which was caused by heavy rains just downstream from Canyon Dam.
Canyon Dam protected downstream areas from major floods in 1978, 1987, 1991, 1992 and 1998. A record flood in July 2002 overtopped the spillway
Spillway
A spillway is a structure used to provide the controlled release of flows from a dam or levee into a downstream area, typically being the river that was dammed. In the UK they may be known as overflow channels. Spillways release floods so that the water does not overtop and damage or even destroy...
by more than seven feet (2 m) and caused significant damage below Canyon Dam.
In the 2002 flood, the peak flow was about 70,000 cubic feet per second (2,000 m³/s). The amount of water that flowed over the spillway was about 3½ times the amount of water that the reservoir holds. Erosion over the course of three days tore away soil to reveal what is now the Canyon Lake Gorge
Canyon Lake Gorge
Canyon Lake Gorge is a gorge around long, hundreds of yards wide, and up to or more deep, which was carved through limestone in 2002 when extensive flooding of the Guadalupe River led to a huge amount of water going over the spillway from the Canyon Lake, Texas, reservoir...
.
Water conservation
The Guadalupe-Blanco River Authority (GBRA) has rights to the water in the conservation pool of the lake. This water is used to operate several small hydroelectric plantsHydroelectricity
Hydroelectricity is the term referring to electricity generated by hydropower; the production of electrical power through the use of the gravitational force of falling or flowing water. It is the most widely used form of renewable energy...
downstream from New Braunfels, and for municipal water supply, irrigation, and industrial uses. GBRA built a hydroelectric facility at Canyon Dam in August 1987; it was put into service in February 1989.
Recreation
Hike, bike and equestrian trails are available, as is limited hunting (archery only).
Bank fishing is available in all park areas, and a 24 hour fishing dock can be found in Cranes Mill Park on the south side of the lake.
Lake level concerns
Plans by GBRA to sell water from Canyon Lake to supply the fast-growing San Antonio and AustinAustin, Texas
Austin is the capital city of the U.S. state of :Texas and the seat of Travis County. Located in Central Texas on the eastern edge of the American Southwest, it is the fourth-largest city in Texas and the 14th most populous city in the United States. It was the third-fastest-growing large city in...
regions have raised concerns that the lake will fall well below the established conservation pool level, potentially causing problems ranging from erosion
Erosion
Erosion is when materials are removed from the surface and changed into something else. It only works by hydraulic actions and transport of solids in the natural environment, and leads to the deposition of these materials elsewhere...
and weakening of Canyon Dam to a decline in property values and possible health issues from the exposure of long-submerged land. This has led to several administrative actions and lawsuits over the future of the lake.