Oh, dam.

A concrete and steel dam that has stood on the San Marcos River below Ottine since 1911 is no more. 

A crew from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife service has been working on demolishing the dam since Monday and should wrap up early next week. Three large excavators have been pounding, scooping and taking away the rubble and look to leave a better environment for not only the river’s ecosystem but for recreationalists, too.

Project Manager Mike Montagne, who was brought on board for this specific project, says that the area will be nice and clean when they are through and even plan to re-seed the area with vegetation to prevent runoff and erosion.

The removal was begun four years ago when the Wildlife Service tapped the dam as an impediment to native fishes and looked to restore native habitat under the National Fish Passage Program. The program looks to remove derelict barriers that have isolated fish populations over the years. The goal is to reintroduce genetic diversity in those populations.

Also, because it was just dam dangerous. 

The structure was constructed by the Zedler family to power a gin and gristmill during the day and to churn out power to Ottine by night. At its peak, the dam was 100 feet long and was constructed of cribbing and stones. Power was generated by a 72-inch Alcot turbine that produced 70 horsepower.

But it has long since been abandoned with the foundations of the former mill standing sentry over the area like a castle in ruins. Engravings on parts of the concrete date that construction to 1925.

Past floods had severely damaged the dam, undermining the foundation and knocking a hole out of the middle. The whole structure had shifted and created hazardous currents, which could kill even the most experienced water traveler. Several deaths have been reported at the dam due to this.

It wasn’t so easy getting to this point. Montagne said that multiple permits had to be pulled from that of historical societies and environmental studies to a Texas Parks and Wildlife gravel relocation permit. When you deal with a natural waterway, many factors have to be taken into consideration and entities consulted.

He also said that the project cost much less than one would think, running in the ballpark of $50,000.

Once the debris is removed from site, a whole new avenue for river recreation is likely to open up on that stretch of the river. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department has plans to designate it as a paddling trail, connecting it to the Guadalupe River and Gonzales while the Texas Water Safari will no doubt enjoy one less hazard to portage around. The folks at Palmetto State Park even have visions of a river outfitter shuttling tubers and kayakers upstream to enjoy a float.

For this portion of the old San Marcos, the river does run wild again.