SM City Council Makes One Decision, Based On One Report

LOCAL RESIDENTS CONCERNS ON SAN MARCOS CITY COUNCIL’S  ‘RACE’  TO REMOVE LOCAL AND HISTORICAL DAM.

 

“Our decision and belief of what might happen to our rivers’ ecosystem is based on what we know, and that is the current ecosystem, after the last 150 years, since the building of Capes Dam.”

“What are the varibles, we don’t know. We truly don’t know what the San Marcos River and it’s ecosystem would become in 150 years from now, if the council makes one decision, based on one report.”

 

 

Letter To The Editor,

Due to the environmental, recreational and historical significance surrounding Cape’s Dam and the associated Mill Race, many San Marcos residents are urging the City Council to reevaluate their decision until further research and secondary opinions are sought and considered prior to moving forward on the proposed project.

The San Marcos City Council (SMCC) may be jumping the gun when it comes to their decision to remove the Cape’s Dam.  Their decision, thus far, has been based on a single report conducted by Watershed Systems Group (WSG).

The dam removal study stated that it would not affect recreational activities in the area. Further discussion with scientists and local residents who use the affected section of river for various recreational activities, say this is not the case and they have urged the SMCC to reconsider their recent decision to remove the dam.

The decision was brought to the SMCC’s agenda in September 2015, following the recent floods, which affected many parts of Central Texas, including areas along the San Marcos River. In a study commissioned by the City of San Marcos (COSM), WSG concluded that the dam’s removal would “re-establish natural current velocities, remove fine sediment accumulation, and restore coarse sediment within this reach of the San Marcos River, thus providing improved habitat for vegetation growth and expansion.”

The report also stated, “There are zero positive benefits to the environment from Cape’s Dam.” These statements, along with a $35,000 grant (grant deadline, July 2016), provided by The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS), seems to have enticed the SMCC to move quickly in their efforts to remove the dam. According to the grant, the City could be relieved of any out-of-pocket expenses specifically related to the dam removal only, but must agree to never rebuild the dam. US Fish are currently seeking a 50/50 cost share, but would consider a type of “In-kind” cost sharing.

What the City has failed to recognize is that federal funds, i.e. this grant, cannot be applied to remove anything listed on the National Historical Register – something that applies to both Cape’s Dam and the left channel of the San Marcos River, which forms the Thompsons Islands.

HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE

Cape’s Dam original purpose was to move additional water through a slough that became a Mill Race area to aid in the production efforts of a local sawmill and cotton gin. The Mill Race has an irrigation record, which dates back to September 9, 1895, filed by a well-known Veteran, Dr. William Alexander Thompson, and currently forms several islands called the Thompson Islands.

In 1994, the mill, along with the islands, received the honor of a Texas Historical Marker, which is still present today. For more information on the historical significance surrounding the dam, visit http://savethesmtxriver.org/historical/ or                           http://www.nationalregisterofhistoricplaces.com/TX//hays/state2.html.

In 1985, it was officially listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Thompson-Cape Dam and Ditch Engineering Structure was the site of the first important industrial activity in Hays County and listed under the identification 41HY164. The dam, artificial sluiceway, and mill-wheel foundation were built along the San Marcos River in 1865. It comes as a surprise to many San Marcos residents that the SMCC would rather destroy these historical landmarks rather than restore and preserve such a significant part of our community’s local history.

 

RECREATIONAL SIGNIFICANCE

In addition to the historical and environmental concerns, removing Cape’s Dam will have a significant effect on the recreational activities in the area. Cape’s Dam and the Mill Race provide an outlet for many aquatic activities – including canoeing, kayaking, paddle boarding, fishing, and swimming.

The Boy Scouts of America come from all over Texas, rehabilitation programs designed to aid in the recovery of disabled veterans, and various other youth groups that visit San Marcos, use this area as a training area and refuge from the flow of the main river channel. The WSG report states a slight increase in recreational ability without the dam but does not include popular activities such as swimming, fishing, or Yoga paddle boarding as a form of recreation. Just those four would be a significant loss if the dam were removed.

Ben Kvanli, a San Marcos resident, says removal of the dam will significantly lower water levels in that area of the river, thus threatening the ongoing success of his business and Veteran rehabilitation programs. Kvanli owns the Olympic Outdoor Center, a kayaking training school that provides therapy to veterans through kayaking. “For us that’s the main concern,” Kvanli said. “That’s where we train, so if you don’t have enough depth then you can’t do the exercises we teach to our customers.” Losing the Dam will choke off the left channel of the San Marcos River (Mill Race) which is heavily used for the majority of youth groups, and people looking for a safe passage because if its slow moving water.

 

ENVIRONMENTAL SIGNIFICANCE

Along with the documented and clear historical significance, several environmental factors will be affected by the removal of Capes Dam. Over the last 150 years, nature has taken hold of this area and flourished, harboring some of our endangered species – including the endangered Fountain Darter and Texas Wild Rice. The Cape’s Dam Weir creates areas of slow and fast moving water, which provide ideal habitats and environmental conditions for several different species to reproduce and thrive.

 

The recent decision by the San Marcos City to remove and not repair Cape’s Dam Weir is based on one single scientific opinion.

The WSG study fails to address significant variables and only accounts for less than half of the measured discharges on the San Marcos River, and incredibly only captures three variables: flow, depth, and substrate.

Rivers and their environments are far more dynamic and important to base a decision of this magnitude on one study which only covers three variables.

It is apparent there are multiple sides to this story, which is why San Marcos residents are urging the SMCC to allow additional research, on both recreational and environmental impacts, and more discussion prior to finalizing the removal of this local historical landmark.

As the project stands, there are still many unknown aspects and associated unknown costs.

  • What is the plan for the Mill Race, a ¼-mile stretch of river that is expected to go dry?
  • What is the cost of approximately 20,000-32,000 sq. yards of fill if it were to be filled in?
  • What is the cost and plan for areas such as the Thompson’s Island waterfall that are expected to become stagnant when the Mill Race stops flowing?
  • Is it not in everyone’s best interest to consider all factors and scenarios surrounding the removal of the dam?

Many hope SMCC will open the door for a more thoughtful and compromising discussion.

Brian Olson, San Marcos Resident http://savethesmtxriver.org


 

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