General Information
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Fort Worth District, has drafted a revised Master Plan for Jim Chapman (Cooper) Lake and White Oak Creek Mitigation Area. The Master Plan is intended to serve as a comprehensive land and recreational management plan with a life span of 25 years. The Master Plan guides the stewardship of natural and cultural resources and the provision of outdoor recreation facilities with opportunities to ensure sustainability of federal land associated with Jim Chapman Lake and White Oak Creek Mitigation Area.
Public Meeting and Agency Input
The Fort Worth District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) is hosting a public meeting to provide information and receive public input on the proposed Draft Master Plan for Jim Chapman Lake and White Oak Creek Mitigation Area. Please review the presentation linked below to learn about the proposed Draft Master Plan and the revision process. The current and proposed Draft Master Plan documents and maps will be available to download at the bottom of the page as well as a comment form with instructions on how to send comments. The Meeting will be on February 27, 2023 at 4:00 pm at the following location:
Hopkins County Regional Civic Center
1200 Houston Street
Sulphur Springs, TX 75482
Material for the Draft Master Plan and Public Meeting will be available prior to the meeting on February 27, 2023 and can be downloaded at the bottom of this page.
About Jim Chapman (Cooper) Lake and White Oak Creek Mitigation Area
The project was originally named Cooper Lake after the nearby town of Cooper, TX. In 1998, an Act of Congress officially renamed the project to Jim Chapman Lake, named in honor of former Congressman Jim Chapman from nearby Sulphur Springs. The project is still known locally as Cooper Lake, and the state park at the project retains the original name of Cooper Lake State Park. Jim Chapman Lake is in the Sulphur River Basin and is located in Delta and Hopkins Counties. The project is a multi-purpose reservoir for flood control, water supply, fish and wildlife management, recreation, and mitigation within the White Oak Mitigation Area. In addition to these primary missions, USACE has an inherent mission of environmental stewardship of project lands and works closely with the stakeholders to provide regionally important outdoor recreation opportunities.
What is a Master Plan?
The Master Plan is the strategic land use management document that guides the comprehensive management and development of all recreational, natural, and cultural resources of the lake throughout the life of the water resources project. The Master Plan does not entail facility designs, daily project administration details or any technical discussion regarding flood risk management, water quality, water supply, shoreline management, or water level management. Many of these topics are covered in the many other Operational Plans that each lake and the district office develop separately from the Master Plan.
Why Revise the Master Plan?
The current Master Plan for Jim Chapman Lake was last updated in 1988 and the White Oak Mitigation Area Supplement was written in 1990. The Master Plan and the land classifications are in need of revision to address changes in regional land use, population, outdoor recreation trends, and USACE management policy. Key topics addressed in the revised Master Plan include revised land classifications, new natural and recreational resource management objectives, recreation facility needs, and special topics such as invasive species management and threatened and endangered species habitat. Public participation is critical to the successful revision of the Master Plan.
Provide Comments or Questions
Comments may be submitted online by email, or by filling out the Comment Form below and submitting by email or mail, or by mailing comments to the postal address below. The comment form is not required but provided as an option. Only written comments will be accepted. The comment period begins February 28, 2023 and ends March 30, 2023. Comments and questions pertaining to the master plan revision can be addressed to:
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Attn: Matt Seavey, Lake Manager
Jim Chapman Lake / Cooper Dam
64 Clear Springs Park
Texarkana, TX 75501
Email: Jim-Chapman-MP@usace.army.mil
February 27, 2023
Jim Chapman Lake and White Oak Creek Master Plan Presentation
Comment Form with Instructions
Public Notice
News Release
March 18, 2022