Some waterfront property owners began dredging at Lake Brownwood after the Brown County Water Improvement District #1 (BCWID) decided to make it allowable last month.

BCWID General Manager Dennis Spinks gave a report Tuesday night at their board of directors meeting regarding current dredging projects at Lake Brownwood.

“We currently have 8 permits to dredge that have been turned back in,” Spinks said.  “At this point there are three of them that are finished, three in progress, and two waiting to start.“

Spinks said that there are also several others owners inquiring into dredging at this time.

“There is some interest, not as much interest in dredging as what I anticipated because of the amount of comments I have had, but we still have quite a few projects ongoing,” Spinks said.

Spinks also said that the largest dredging project took place in Turner Bay, and that most of the other dredging was on a much smaller scale, mostly because of cost.

“That is the big reason we haven’t had a hundred requests for permits because when they actually get down to it, the cost is a lot more than what they thought,” Spinks said.

Officials said that they expect more waterfront property owners to begin dredging projects if the lake level declines several more feet.

The BCWID board of directors voted last month to allow waterfront property owners to conduct dry dredging between the current water level and the normal maximum lake level of 1425 msl.   Currently, Lake Brownwood is a little over 9 feet low which will allow waterfront property owners to work on the dry lakebed by their property.

This dry dredging requires the property owner to obtain a permit from the BCWID and follow some specific guidelines.

One key guideline for dredging is that material must be scooped up and removed from the lakebed so it will not wash back into the lake.  Material cannot be pushed or moved around, but is required to be removed from the lake.  Guidelines also required that dredging be confined within the owner’s extended property lines, and the sloped sides of the dredged area must be between a 45 degree and 1 degree slope.  Potholes are also not allowed.

For more information about dredging at Lake Brownwood, contact the BCWID at 325-643-2609.

Other items addressed at Tuesday BCWID board of directors meeting:

*The board discussed increasing rates of irrigation water from Lake Brownwood.  After a lengthy discussion regarding the amount of the increase, the issue was tabled until next month.

*Other fees at Lake Brownwood including fees for docks, stalls, island leases, and sail boats will remain the same.

*The board approved a resolution regarding the Texas Water Code Chapter 51.184 and Water Use Preference to outline who has preferential use of the water at Lake Brownwood.

*The district approved the purchase of an existing security system at Flat Rock Park for $4000. The security system was originally purchased by the tenant.