Residents of Lake Dunlap earned another small victory in pursuit of a solution to fix a failed hydroelectric dam and restore the lake.

The Guadalupe-Blanco River Authority approved a memorandum of understanding Oct. 23 that recognizes the Preserve Lake Dunlap Association’s pursuit of a water control and improvement district.

“I think this beginning step is a testament to the progress that can be made when everyone works together,” GBRA Board Chair Dennis Patillo said. “I really appreciate the role [PLDA] has played.”

The memorandum of understanding between the GBRA and the PLDA stipulates that the PLDA will support recommendations by GBRA’s internal and third-party engineering consultants regarding a new type of hydraulic-crest gate structure.

According to GBRA officials, designs for a new gate structure are nearing 30% completion, and the full design will be ready by late spring.

The memorandum of understanding also states that the GBRA will perform and pay for design and engineering work on Lake Dunlap and contribute gross revenues from hydroelectric power on Lake Dunlap toward construction and maintenance and operation.

Additionally, the PLDA will continue to pursue a water control and improvement district and has pledged to levy a district tax to help fund the dam's construction.

An operations agreement between the GBRA and the PLDA is still needed to move the project forward, and that agreement will need approval by the GBRA Board of Directors.

Before an agreement is finalized, the PLDA must obtain approval for a water control and improvement district from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality and Lake Dunlap residents. A vote by lake residents is expected in May 2020.

“We recognize there’s still a lot of work to be done to finalize our agreement and begin the actual reconstruction of the dam,” acting PLDA president John Ivy said. “However, we feel this proposed agreement is a great first step forward.”