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General Satement

The U. S Army Corps of Engineers is responsible for managing Lewisville Lake for multiple purposes including flood damage reduction, water conservation, environmental stewardship, and outdoor recreation.  Ecosystem based management and conservation of natural resources and wildlife habitat is given primary consideration in all management decisions.

While private exclusive use of public land is not permitted, property owners adjacent to public land have the same pedestrian privileges as any other citizen and may be granted permission to perform certain activities in the interest of public safety.  Therefore, the information contained in these guidelines is designed to acquaint the adjoining landowner, and other interested persons, with allowable activities and the types of property involved in the management of the Trinity Project lakes.

Trinity Project Adjacent Landowner Guidelines

Adobe Reader is required)
  1. Cover
  2. Guidelines
  3. Appendix A : Synopsis of PEA
  4. Appendix B : Narrow Shoreline Variances (long download time)
  5. Appendix C : Prescriptions
  6. Appendix D : Permit Conditions
  7. Appendix E : Group Agreement
  8. Appendix F : Permit Fees
  9. Appenidx G : Permit Template (for reference ONLY)
  10. Appendix H : Mitigation Cost Analysis

Flowage Easement Land

Ray Roberts and Lewisville Lakes have guidelines for landowners who have property adjacent to Government property and/or who own property which contains a flowage easement.   A flowage easement occurs on property that is privately owned, but on which the Government owns the right to flood in perpetuity.  There are restrictions as to what landowners can do on flowage easement property. A flowage easement description should be found in the deed to your property, or cited for reference in the appropriate county deeds. In some instances the reference to flowage easement restrictions is omitted during the preparation of new deeds with changes in ownership. The omission does not diminish the legality or validity of flowage easement restrictions over the property involved.

Flowage easement lands around Lewisville Lake are defined as those lands below the elevation contour of 537.0 feet above mean sea level. There are areas that may vary, be sure to check your deed.

The Owner of Flowage Easement Land, at his discretion, may:

  • Construct a fence to, or along, the Government boundary line which does not impede the flow of water.
  • Mow, clear, or plant vegetation so long as the original land contours are not changed and fill is neither brought in or removed.
  • Sell or lease the land to others, subject to all restrictions contained in the flowage easement instrument.

Activities which are prohibited on Flowage Easement lands:

  • Construct or maintain any structure for human habitation, including mobile homes, travel trailers, recreational camping vehicles, tents, or other shelters which are normally used for overnight occupancy.
  • Place or construct any other structure or facility in, under, on, or over the land without prior approval by the District Engineer. This includes, but is not limited to, buildings, ramps, roads, channels, ditches, dams, dikes, wells, earthen tanks, roads, utility lines, and tramways.
  • Add fill material to raise flowage easement lands above the specific lake's flowage easement elevation contour.

Activities on Flowage Easement lands which may be permitted:

  • The owner of flowage easement must make written application for a permit to place or construct any type of structure or facility on flowage easement property. With written approval of the District Engineer, the landowner then may:
  • Construct almost any type building, other than one designed or intended for human habitation.
  • Build streets or roads.
  • Construct utility lines.
  • Drill or dig wells.
  • Construct water, sewer, or septic tanks and systems.
  • Use the land for recreational purposes.
  • The construction of wells, water, sewer or septic systems will be examined on a case by case basis to ensure that no pollution of the lake or water wells, nor interference of the operation of the reservoir, will occur. Construction must be in accordance with all applicable laws, rules, and regulations. Specifically in the case of requests for sewage and septic systems, written approval from both the state health department and the County Environmental Health Department, (if the site is located in an unincorporated area), or the City within whose jurisdiction the site is located and/or the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ), Region 4 Office located in Arlington, Texas must accompany the request to the District Engineer. State Health Department regulations require, that all septic systems should not be located within a minimum of 75 feet from the lake water surface at the uncontrolled spillway elevation.  Please contact the Elm Fork Project Office for specific details concerning flowage easement requirements, controlling elevations and requirements for submitting an application.

Permit Applications

All requests for construction or placement of any structure or facility on flowage easement land must include:

    • A letter of application
    • detailed design plans, including the purpose for the structure.  Provide the elevation of the proposed structure or activity and include design plans for the baseline and finished floor elevatons.
    • plat map showing the location of the proposed action and the relationship with the government boundary and lakeshore (2 copies), elevation
    • calculations of any excavations and/or fill.  There can be no net loss of flood storage capacity.
    • a map with the elevations of the structure or activity, cut and fill locations, and the relationship with the government  property line and the flowage easement controlling elevation.
    • Other information as required for specific requests, e.g., electric line low sag height requirements, sewage system requirements , anchorage systems, etc.

    Please address all permit applications or other correspondence to : Lake Manager,Lewisville Lake Office, 1801 N. Mill St., Lewisville, TX 75057.

    Applications cannot be processed until all this information is complete.

Considerations before buying adjacent property

Before purchasing land adjacent to Lewisville Lake, there are three items, which should be checked to determine if the land is suitable for the uses you intend for it:

1) Check to see if the upper extent of flowage easement and the Government property line are identified. The person selling the land when the property lines are surveyed usually does this.  If they are not identified, contact the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at this office.

2) Contact the local city or county Environmental Health Department for information and requirements for submitting a permit for a septic system, testing, and design requirements.

3) Establish on the ground whether or not there is enough space ABOVE the upper extent of flowage easement on which to place a mobile home or construct a house with a septic system. After the land is purchased, apply for all necessary permits, licenses and contracts well in advance of construction.

We are engaged in preserving and restoring natural scenic beauty at Lewisville Lake and we appreciate your participation in this effort on both Federal owned and flowage easement lands.  Your cooperation will assist us in providing a healthy ecosystem managed environment that will provide and protect the quality of, air, land and water, and a variety of plants and animals that contribute to our personal, social, and economic well being for future generations.

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