Our history
The Dam Community Alliance is Born
On May 21, 2018 the Canyon Dam Access Road was closed to the public. The decision to restrict access was made after a formal complaint was received alleging violations of the Architectural Barriers Act of 1968. The subsequent investigation revealed the Dam’s 1.29-mile access road was never intended for public use. Consequently, the access road (which is 224 feet above the lake bed) was not built to meet federal safety and accessibility regulations. In the face of these serious violations, the United States Army Corps of Engineers had no choice but to close the access road to the public.
The decision to close the Dam was a terrible blow to the Canyon Lake community. The Dam has provided the residents of Canyon Lake a sense of identity for over 55 years and has served as the location for several annual fundraisers that support the community’s services. Lastly, it is a valuable public health resource providing the only flat, pedestrian friendly walkway in the Canyon Lake area.
Soon after the closure, a group of Canyon Lake residents came together and began working towards reopening the access road to the public. This grassroots effort grew into the Dam Community Alliance, a 501c3 non-profit organization dedicated to benefiting the Canyon Lake community.
