EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — El Paso County is no longer considering dredging or draining Ascarate Lake to improve its water quality, which has faced several challenges in years past.
According to County officials, the lake today continues to face issues with water loss, sediment buildup, and algae blooms — which have in years past killed the lake’s fish — that threaten the lake’s water quality and aquatic life.
In 2023, El Paso County approved $6 million in funding for improvements to Ascarate Lake.
County Commissioner for Precinct 2, David Stout, said the County originally envisioned they would use those funds to dredge the lake — a process which involves removing excess sediment from a body of water using a machine called a dredge– but said that is no longer an option…