Blow open the dam between Sandlin and Monticello?

Thoughts on this? It would open up Monticello to fisherman. Highly doubt TPW would do it. I would donate to this effort.

Isnt Bob Sandlin below Monticello? I mean lower than Monti?

could cause you a heap of legal problems tresspasing an damaging someone else with a lot of moneys private property.

They are now at the same level. They permanently opened the underwater gate between Sandlin and Monti….so Monti is now permanently 5ft lower than it used to be (and has a lot more white bass……and some of the LMB now caught in Sandlin look like Monti lily pad bass)

Not happening. Pipe dream. The powers that be cannot care any less if we can fish Monti.

How about a little lock for 3-4 bassboats at a time?

Either one would be nice

Well if we are going to dream then crank that power plant back up!

Just need to start collecting Tannerite...........
Actually, me and a friend of mine were talking about what if all three lakes just became one big lake this past week, nothing a big track hoe couldn't resolve in a week or two. All that would be needed would opening wide enough for boats to pass coming and going on the two dams. The thing is some or everybody involved would probably have a cow just for bringing it up; but it makes since doesn't it. with government officials involved we can't have that.......the other piece to this; and it may prevent it all together, is the difference in elevations. Bob Sandlin would probably be fine with it but the other two may nearly empty or worse.

I was wondering why they didn't combine them like they did Lewisville, Dallas, Garza/Little Elm... On the Monti/Sandlin side, it was really only about 3 foot difference between each other. I figured they could raise Sandlin by 1.5 foot and lower monti by the same to even out some of the property and creeks. Cypress is 20+ foot higher than Sandlin, so there's a big problem there. However, why Texas doesn't do Locking Dams is beyond me.

Interesting the lock thing has never been brought up, those bastard kayakers probably want Monti to themselves

Too late, they already demolished the smokestacks at the Monticello plant. That plant will never generate hot water again.

WAY, WAY more expensive to build, run and maintain than just blowing a big hole in the current dam. They are at the same level now so no big deal (in my humble opinion). No matter, it will not happen at least in my lifetime.

The lock idea I really like but that would probably run into more expense than any government agency would want to fork out. Opening the dam @ Monti would probably be the most feasible of all the choices if the elevations are that close.

Bob Sandlin - Conservation Pool = 337.5
Monticello - Conservation Pool = 340
Cypress Springs - Conservation Pool = 378

Monticello definitely doable, no residential property involved it's just a matter of selling the idea to the right people. Cypress Springs would look like an empty bathtub. I think the biggest issue you would have with adding Monticello to Sandlin would be the folks that own the property around Monticello not wanting people trespassing on the land around it. Someone told me a while back that it can't be sold and developed for 100 years for some reason but IF that is the case, could it be donated to the state for a massive tax break?

There was a group trying to regain access to the lake and control the dam, however the company that bought the plant refused to allow it. They are hoping to sell it as a major reservoir for private development. They can build everywhere expect the plant proper and the coal mine because they are/will be superfund sites. I would like to see it back at full pool with public access, but barring any possibility of that, blow the dam so it doesn't become another "lost lake" in Texas!

There is public access to Monticello. Just drag your kayak down the road and over the guardrail.

If they opened the dam Monto fishing would soon because as good as Bob Sandlin.
Or visa versa.

The fish have been moving back and forth for a few years now. Since they opened the gates during the floods, White Bass made it into Monti, and the big "Slot fish" made their way into Sandlin. Lots of fat formerly Monti bass are weighed in tournaments on Sandlin these days.

Really miss that lake.

Our TAX DOLLARS stocked fish in that lake, you would think that there would have to be some kind of public access to the lake...

I feel that way about several fisheries lately. Even if I have never fished them... Maybe it's time to call our state reps to see if they can pass something in the next legislative session to stop this junk from happening!

If you raised Sandlin 1.5', every dock on the lake would be underwater. 6", maybe.

It's only fair they share with the bass boats and wake boats.

I may just go this coming weekend... wanna join me? Got a kayak? I didn't think so..

Nice!

that thangs got indoor plumbing

If they develop Monticello the developer may want the dam breached so the residents on Monticello will have access to the recreational areas of Bob Sandlin for water skiing, wake boats, and jet ski's; you guys know, all the stuff that annoys us.
Seriously, the right developer would have pockets deep enough to make it happen.