It is the policy of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to manage the natural, cultural and developed resources of Canyon Lake to provide the public with safe and healthful recreational opportunities, while protecting and enhancing those resources. Maintaining the integrity of project purposes is given primary consideration in all management decisions to insure the maximum use and enjoyment of the lake lands and waters by present and future generations of Americans.

While private, exclusive use of public lands is not allowed, all citizens, including property owners adjacent to public lands, enjoy the same rights and privileges. One of the most valued privileges is that of pedestrian access to most of the public lands surrounding the lake. With the exception of certain controlled access park areas and secure operational areas, most public land at U.S. Army Corps of Engineers lakes is open to public pedestrian traffic.

Land which is owned by the Federal government consists of the land inundated by Canyon Lake at the conservation (normal) pool elevation of 909.00’ above mean sea level, as well as a strip of land of varying width which surrounds the lake when the lake is at the conservation pool elevation. The limits of this public land are defined by the U.S. boundary line, the corners of which are marked by concrete monuments. These monuments, or boundary markers, are topped with a brass cap which is usually about four inches above ground level. At some lakes the brass caps may be mounted on rocks or on metal pipes as well.  The U.S. boundary line may or may not be delineated by a fence.

If you have questions about the location of the government property boundary, contact the Canyon Lake Project Office at 830-964-3341. A field appointment with a Park Ranger can be scheduled to assist you in locating the government boundary or in obtaining answers to any other questions you may have concerning the management of public land.  Written inquiries may be addressed to:

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Canyon Lake Office
601 C.O.E. Road
Canyon Lake, TX 78133

As an Adjacent Landowner, You May:

1. Have unlimited pedestrian access to public land except those areas that are specifically restricted.
2. Apply for a permit to mow a 3-foot wide path to the 909 elevation line. This permit authorizes 2 cuts per year and must be renewed annually.
3. Apply for a permit to remove flood debris. No heavy equipment may be used, and no motorized vehicles are authorized on federal property.
4. Apply for a License to place a water intake line across and under Government property to the lake for the purpose of withdrawing water for private use. Before applying for a License, water rights must be obtained from the Guadalupe-Blanco River Authority (GBRA). All pumps and electrical components must be located off of Federal property. The use of submersible pumps for the purpose of withdrawing water for individual domestic uses at Fort Worth District Civil Works Reservoirs is prohibited. Acceptable alternative pumping options do exist. In the interest of protecting tree roots, erodible soils or scenic vistas, applications for water intake licenses may be modified or denied.

As an Adjacent Landowner, You May Not:

1. Use public lands for any type of private exclusive use, or for commercial purposes.
2. Place unattended personal property of any kind on public land.
3. Construct buildings, roads, improved pathways, or any other facilities on public land.
4. Restrict public access to public land either verbally, by posting signs, or by any other method.
5. Operate vehicles on public land, except on paved roadways and at authorized access points. This includes ATVs, motorbikes and golfcarts
6. Dispose of any type of garbage, debris, or other refuse on public land.
7. Camp on public land, except in designated areas.
8. Gather fallen timber for firewood except for use on public lands unless in conjunction with an approved permit for removing flood debris
9. Allow horses, cattle, or other livestock on public land except by lease from the Government or as otherwise permitted.
10. Destroy, alter, or remove any facility, vegetation, natural or archaeological feature. Removal of trees or shrubs to enhance one’s view of the lake is illegal.
11. Use fireworks of any kind.

Perpetual flowage easements were acquired by the Federal Government on certain private lands that adjoin public land in the Canyon Lake area. These flowage easements grant to the government full, complete, and perpetual right, power, privilege, and easement to occasionally overflow, flood, and submerge lands in connection with the operation and maintenance of the lake. Flowage easement lands around Canyon Lake are generally defined as those private lands located below the elevation contour of 948 feet above mean sea level. However, this does not mean all property has an easement or that the easement follows this contour. Often the purchase line is by metes and bounds and NOT the 948 contour. A complete review of the deed history may be necessary to determine the actual flowage easement related to your land. The deed information that created the flowage easement would be necessary to determine its exact location. This data is available in the county and federal records. With few exceptions, a flowage easement grants the Federal government the right to prevent human habitation on the flowage easement and, to prevent any activity that would limit the government’s ability to periodically store flood water on the land. In some instances, the reference to a flowage easement restriction is omitted during the preparation of new deeds during changes in property ownership. This omission does not diminish the legality or validity of flowage easement restrictions over the property involved.

Activities Allow in Flowage Easement Without Written Consent:

1. Mowing, clearing, and/or planting vegetation (must not alter the natural grade of the slope).
2. Selling or leasing the land to others, subject to all restrictions contained in the flowage easement instrument.
3. Constructing a chain link, wrought iron, wire, or other permeable fence type to or along the Government boundary line.

Activities Prohibited on Flowage Easement:

1. Constructing or maintaining any structure for human habitation or buildings for commercial purposes, permanent or temporary. Habitation includes any structure, permanent or temporary, any recreational unit (RV, 5th wheel, pop up, tents, etc.) or any building that has been converted in any form to be habitable.
2. Placing fill material within the easement, raising the land above the flowage easement contour, or altering the location of the flowage easement contour.
3. Placing or constructing any other structures or appurtenances to existing structures on the flowage easement land without prior written approval of the District Engineer. “Other Structures” are construed to mean any structure of any kind including but not limited to fill material, buildings, ramps, ditches, channels, dams, dikes, wells, earthen tanks, roads, utility lines, and tramways.

With a written Consent issued by the Corps of Engineers, most structures, other than a building or structure designed or intended to be used for human habitation or commercial purposes, structures that cause a loss of flood storage capacity, or structures designed to store petroleum or hazardous products, can be constructed on flowage easement land. The addition of any fill material must be mitigated with the removal of the same amount of fill material.

With respect to construction of water wells, sewer lines, or septic systems, each case will be examined to ensure that pollution of the lake or interference with the operation of the reservoir will not occur. All proposed sewer line and septic system installations must have prior approval of city, county or state health departments. State law requires that septic system installations must be located a minimum of 75 feet in horizontal distance up slope from the 50-year flood plain of 940’ MSL contour line. However, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will not allow septic tanks below elevation 948.

Requirements for All Applications

1. Request letter from property owner (not contractor) to include:
1. Property address.
2. Name, mailing address, email address, and phone number of property owner.
3. Brief description of all proposed work.
4. Statement of whether or not water, electric, or other utility lines will be installed.
5. Statement of the volume, in cubic yards, of all fill material AND building materials that will be added below the 948 contour line.
6. Statement of the volume, in cubic yards, of material that will be removed below the 948 contour (must be greater than or equal to the building and fill materials to ensure no net loss of flood storage capacity).
2. A map, plat, or property deedclearly depicts the following:
1. Location of the 948 contour elevation line.
2. Location(s) of the requested structure(s). Structures may be drawn in by landowner in most cases.
3. Location of any water, electric, gas, or other utility lines. For electric and gas lines, please show the location of their respective cut-off switches (must be located above the 948 contour). It is recommended electrical lines be underground. Other requirements, including minimum sag hieght, will apply to all above ground lines.
4. Location of the mitigation area (where material will be removed in order to offset material being added).
5. Depending on the type of complexity of the request, surveys or engineered drawings may be required.
3. Detailed design plans of all proposed work. For structures that fall within the Comal County flood plain, be advised that a Consent from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is required before obtaining a Flood Plan permit from Comal County.
4. Volume calculations, in cubic yards, of all building materials and fill material that will be added and removed for the project below the 948 contour line.
1. Building matierals include concrete, lumber, stone, rock, and metal (sheet metal and small hardware such as nails, bolts, and nuts do not need to be calculated).
2. Fill matierals include concrete, ashphalt, base material and topsoil.
3. For enclosed structures, please calculate the volume of the interior of the structure that is located below the 948 line. For example, if you wanted to construct a storage shed that was 10 feet tall, and the bottom of the shed was located at elevation 943, then you would need to calculate the volume of the first 5 feet of the shed.
4. Please, show your work. The Canyon Lake Office will need to clearly see HOW you arrived at your total.
5. For On-Site Sewage Facilities (OSSF) Only:
1. Stamped Engineered drawings will be required.
2. All associated permit paperwork that will be submitted to the Comal County Engineers Office will need to be included in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers request.
3. In addition to the 948 contour line, the engineered drawing must show the location of the 940 contour (50-year floodplain).
4. There must be a MINIMUM of 75 feet horizontal distance between the spray zones and the 940 contour.
5. Material removed during the trenching process shall be placed above the 948 contour so as not to reduce flood storage capacity.
6. NO lateral fields are allowed. Spray Fields only.
7. Tanks must be placed above the 948 line.
6. For Water Intake Lines Only:
1. Licenses for water intake lines are valid for 5 years. By mutual agreement between the license holder and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, licenses can be renewed in 5-year increments. If either party decides not to renew a license, the water intake line and associated equipment must be removed from Corps of Engineers property and the flowage easement.
2. Please indicate the type of pump, type and location of any pipe (including pipe diameter) and location of any electrical lines. Due to electrical shock hazards, no submersible pumps are allowed.
3. The pump motor MUST be located off of federal property.
4. Property owner must submit a current copy of the Contract for Raw Water Service between themselves and the Guadalupe-Blanco River Authority (GBRA).
5. Please include the volume calculations in cubic yards for the pump and any associated equipment. You are required to remove an equal amount of material from below the 948 contour to ensure that there is no net loss of flood storage capacity.
6. The Corps is not liable for damages caused by zebra mussels.

Activities Prohibited on Flowage Easement:

1. Constructing or maintaining any structure for human habitation or buildings for commercial purposes, permanent or temporary. Habitation includes any structure, permanent or temporary, any recreational unit (RV, 5th wheel, pop up, tents, etc.) or any building that has been converted in any form to be habitable.
2. Placing fill material within the easement, raising the land above the flowage easement contour, or altering the location of the flowage easement contour.
3. Placing or constructing any other structures or appurtenances to existing structures on the flowage easement land without prior written approval of the District Engineer. “Other Structures” are construed to mean any structure of any kind including but not limited to fill material, buildings, ramps, ditches, channels, dams, dikes, wells, earthen tanks, roads, utility lines, and tramways.

After applications have been submitted and reviewed, a Park Ranger will contact the applicant to discuss the proposal and schedule and inspection of the area. If necessary, Applicants can request an initial site visit with a Park Ranger to discuss conceptual plans and ideas.

Be advised, project requests go through a multi-channel review during processing. Depending on the complexity of the project or other factors, processing times may take up to 180 days or longer. Failure to provide all the necessary paperwork, or incorrect items, may result in delays in processing.

We are engaged in preserving and restoring natural scenic beauty at Canyon Lake and we appreciate any effort on your part to assist in this effort on both public and flowage easement lands. Your assistance in erosion control, pollution abatement, restoring native plant communities, and related activities on adjacent land will help keep lake area clean and beautiful for all Americans to enjoy.

A printable copy of this information may be found here