TCEQ Expert on Dams Consulting on Fish and Game Lake Breach

** Update: Tuesday, 8:15 p.m. … I just had a long conversation with Athens Municipal Water Authority Board President Steve Sparkman who helped explain further what is planned for the Fish and Game Club Lake dam Wednesday morning.

First of all, Sparkman said officials will not be cutting into the dam.

Sparkman said officials will be opening a 12-inch valve and cutting away boards covering gates in the bottom of the spillway to drain the lake level and relieve the pressure. They will also be cutting an emergency secondary spillway nearby in case Athens gets another heavy rainfall.

In this method, officials hope to drain water from the Fish and Game Club Lake to Lake Athens in a controlled manner.

** UPDATE: Tuesday, 3 p.m. …. County officials have verified that engineers are planning to conduct a controlled breach of the dam Wednesday morning.

By Michael V. Hannigan

A state expert on dams is in Henderson County and is consulting on the Fish and Game Club Lake dam breach, according to county officials.

Kyle Hodges from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) arrived last night, County Judge Richard Sanders said. Hodges, along with local engineering firm Velvin and Weeks and the Fish and Game Club property owners are discussing options regarding the dam.

A small breach in the dam opened up Sunday night following torrential downpours which dropped between 7-10 inches of rain on the county, according to officials. The county has issued two voluntary evacuation orders for residents who are between the Fish and Game Club Lake and Lake Athens. More details of the evacuation notice can be found here.

According to Sanders, the discussion of emergency action plans has included a possible controlled breach of the dam, which would drain the water out of the Fish and Game Club Lake more slowly than if the dam broke all at once.

All plans are in the discussion phase as of Tuesday morning, however, and are dependent on the weather.