Shoreline Preservation

Group Letter About Shoreline Management Protect Lake Texoma
We are citizens concerned about protection of the natural beauty of Lake Texoma. Lake Texoma is a wonderful and unique place for water activities, birding and camping. Its shorelines are surrounded by federal and state lands. Its south shore, particularly on the east end, has forested shorelines, tall cliffs and deep coves with sandy beaches. Fish, birds and wildlife flourish in this relatively unspoiled natural environment. People are enticed to the Lake by this unspoiled natural beauty.

Unfortunately, there are plans for this to change. Economic interests plan to change the designation of pristine shoreline now designated as Protected, Aesthetic and Limited Development under the Shoreline Management Plan (SMP, see maps and article elsewhere on this site) which governs use of the lake to allow development. In addition, developers propose designating Lake Texoma as a Demonstration Lake in an effort to obtain funding for development and avoid restrictions which apply to current commercial interests and marinas on the lake. The City of Denison has also proposed a 474 acre park for this shoreline in order to do for developers what the developers cannot do as private interests. All this is intended to pave the way for development of shoreline with roads, golf courses, floating boathouses and a marina on public property. The Lake Texoma SMP has reportedly never been changed and should not now be changed to allow this activity in Protected, Aesthetic or Limited Development areas.

In addition, the there are too many buoys in West Butterfly and Little Mineral Cove East. These buoys can be turned into boathouses. The buoys and boathouses restrict and will eventually eliminate access to the natural beaches. They are navigation hazards. We believe they should be limited and/or removed. Some may be converted to public buoys.
The public will actually have greater access to much more desirable beach and natural areas if there are no parks, boathouses or buoys.

Additionally, there is no cost to maintain such areas as there are with parks, boathouses, etc. The parks will become run down, developers will do their best to restrict public access to their excusive residences and marinas, and the property will progress through many owner and likely bankruptcy. There are already too many parks and boat launches that have been closed for lack of funding and use around the lake. Boat slips and golf courses around the lake are underutilized. The proposed development and parks on the south side of Little Mineral Arm will not benefit the public.

We fear that a special natural area near Grandpappy Point may be lost. Those signing this petition participate so that the beauty of lakes can be preserved, that the Protected and Aesthetic designation is not be lifted for any part of the lake, that parks should not be placed in Protected or Aesthetic areas, that an Environmental Impact Study be done before consideration of any development, and that additional boathouses should not be allowed in Butterfly or the south side of Little Mineral Arm.

We, the undersigned, more specifically request the Corps and political leaders as follows
1. Shoreline designated as Protected or Aesthetic should not be developed for parks, golf courses or otherwise. Such shoreline on Little Mineral Arm should remain natural and unspoiled. Limited Development shoreline in Little Mineral Cove East should not be changed to allow more development and should be changed to Protected shoreline. We urge that Little Mineral Cove East should be designated as Protected.

2. An Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) must be made before any further development on the lake is considered. Developments as large as Monarch Ridge, those in Protected or Aesthetic areas or the park proposal have much too significant an impact not to have an EIS. An EIS is the only way to determine what impact these and other proposals will have on the Lake.

3. In general, development of the Lake beyond what it is now should be limited and controlled. The Lake should not be designated a Development Lake. The public should not be asked to fund an EIS for private developers.

4. The Corps should change the SMP to limit buoys and prevent boathouses in East and West Butterfly coves, as well as on the south side of Little Mineral East Cove or along any protected area or deep coves. Whenever possible, buoys should be removed from these areas and coves permanently. Additional boathouses in these areas should be prevented.

5. There are many problems involved in the City of Denison Park Proposal. There is no guarantee of control, funding, maintenance, quality or public access. It should be denied. The public and our children will be better served by leaving the area natural.

6. Meetings and hearings should be held at more than one point around Lake Texoma by the Corps to advise the public of proposed changes, provide an opportunity for public input and the final Shoreline Management Plan.

7. The Corps should provide the public with the disposition of comments and recommendations on the Shoreline Management Plan via the appropriate USACE web site or viewing and copying at a designated location. The Corps should develop a e-mail system to notify interested persons with notice of any changes, notices or actions.

Privacy Statement: Only first and last names, and your town name will appear on the web. All other information is required for verification of execution by those participating. No other information will be released to the public or anyone (other than persons handling this petition) and will not be used for any purpose than for the expression of opinion to the Corps without your permission. Name, address and telephone information may be provided to the Corps for verification purposes. By providing this information you agree to these privacy terms.