FORT WORTH, Texas – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Fort Worth District, after careful consideration of current and forecasted Lewisville Lake levels, will reopen Lewisville Lake to boat traffic on June 5.
The closure was a result of inflows created by heavy rainfall with resulting increases in lake elevation. In the early morning hours of Sunday, May 31, Lewisville Lake recorded a new pool of record at 537.02 feet.
Under those conditions, wakes created by boaters could have potentially flooded homes and damaged property adjacent to the elevated shoreline. Additionally, debris and underwater obstructions created hazardous conditions so all persons around the lake were urged to stay aware of changing conditions.
"We thank those who did not use their boats during the temporary closing of boating at Lewisville Lake. We know that there were impacts to business interests and others and want to ensure all that the decision to close the lake to boating was necessary to ensure the public’s safety," said Lt. Col. Clay Morgan, acting commander, Fort Worth District.
The Corps recommends boaters conduct a personal safety risk assessment before resuming boating activities. Some areas of consideration include: potential of snakes and fire ants moving in the water, debris and other recreational equipment/facilities just below the water surface, use of all personal protective equipment to include a U.S. Coast Guard approved life vest and navigation avoidance of intake/spillway operations. Latest lake levels may be viewed at http://www.swf-wc.usace.army.mil/cgi-bin/rcshtml.pl?page=Reports&report=fish and facility closure report may be viewed at http://www.swf-wc.usace.army.mil/drought/drought.htm.
For additional information about our lake operations, please call the Fort Worth District’s Public Affairs Office at 817-886-1306.
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About the Fort Worth District: The Fort Worth District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers was established in 1950. The District is responsible for water resources development in two-thirds of Texas, and design and construction at military installations in Texas and parts of Louisiana and New Mexico. Visit the Fort Worth District Web site at: www.swf.usace.army.mil and SWF Face book at: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Fort-Worth-District-US-Army-Corps-of-Engineers/188083711219308
Release no. 15-036