Campground Review, Lake Texoma State Park and Alternative Corps Recreation Areas

The State of Oklahoma may purchase and resell all of the Lake Texoma State Park land previously leased from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and possibly replace the state campgrounds by leasing existing Corps campgrounds located in an adjacent county to meet state statutory requirements.

The State of Oklahoma Commissioners of Land Office (CLO) purchased approximately 558 acres of the 1,580 acres of Lake Texoma State Park land under lease from the federal government. The 558 acres located on the north and south sides of Highway 70 were then advertised and are close to being sold in total or part to Pointe Vista Development as of January 12, 2008.

The Oklahoma Governor wrote a letter dated 2/14/07 to the Corps of Engineers indicating that the state is interested in purchasing the remaining 1,022 acres of federal land used for the Lake Texoma State Park. If the remaining federal land is purchased and resold to private interests, the state campgrounds must be replaced at Lake Texoma in accordance with the Oklahoma Statutes.

The state statutes point out that all of the Lake Texoma State Park campgrounds must be replaced with equivalent land acreage and comparable public recreation facilities in terms of type, quality and quantity at Lake Texoma.

 Recent informal information indicates that state officials are considering leasing or purchasing the existing Corps of Engineers Johnson Creek and possibly the Lakeside Recreation Areas located in Bryan County, OK and on Lake Texoma. That raises the question if the alternative Corps Recreation Area campgrounds at Johnson Creek and Lakeside meet the Oklahoma statutory requirements for replacement.

The following review of alternative campground areas indicate that the State will be able to substantially reduce or eliminate their long standing State Park public service, financial commitments and obligations in Marshall County and at Lake Texoma.

However, several disadvantages were evident. Shutting down the Lake Texoma State Park campgrounds and related facilities represents a net loss of 212 campsites at Lake Texoma even if the State assumes responsibility for the existing Corps Johnson Creek and Lakeside Recreational campgrounds. It will have a major negative effect on affordable public access to tourism and outdoor recreational use at Lake Texoma and South Central Oklahoma.

The regional economic engine has been hard hit by previously shutting down the Lake Texoma State Park Lodge and 70 plus cabins as well as the impacts of the 2007 major flooding for the entire lake.

According to recent public statements, proposed commercial development at the Lake Texoma State Park by Pointe Vista Development will take several years before upscale and significantly more expensive tourism and recreational facilities are actually operational and open on a large scale to the public. Even after the proposed new upscale Pointe Vista tourist and outdoor recreational facilities are operational, the Oklahoma side of Lake Texoma will still have a substantial net reduction of affordable tourist and recreational facilities that historically attract the majority of tourists and visitors to the area.

The following review indicates that using the existing Corps Johnson Creek and Lakeside Recreation Areas as a replacement for the existing Lake Texoma State Park campgrounds does not meet the Oklahoma State Statutory requirements. The 212 Lake Texoma State Park campground sites and acreage are not comparable to the combined total of 151 campsites and significantly reduced acreage for the Corps Johnson Creek and Lakeside Recreation Areas. Infrastructure, related facilities, roads and acreage are insufficient to support an additional 61 campsites to be comparable.

Other alternatives must be thoroughly investigated before key decisions are made by Oklahoma State officials and legislators.

Ed Phillips 

 

Campground Review, Lake Texoma State Park and Alternative Corps Recreation Areas

The State of Oklahoma may purchase and resell all of the Lake Texoma State Park land previously leased from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and possibly replace the state campgrounds by leasing existing Corps campgrounds located in an adjacent county to meet state statutory requirements.

Federal Legislation

Federal legislation was enacted that mandated that the Corps sell the federal property previously leased by the State of Oklahoma for use by the Lake Texoma State Park located at Kingston, OK.

The following information was obtained from the Corps Lake Texoma Land Sale summary for the Environmental Assessment (EA) and WRDA 1999. The Lake Texoma Land Sale EA is available online at the Tulsa District Office Corps web site  http://www.swt.usace.army.mil/library/libraryDetail.cfm?ID=212 . Click on the link to the Final Environmental Assessment for the Land Sale.

A map of the 500+ acres of Corps land to be sold to the State of Oklahoma is available from the Corps Environmental Assessment at http://www.swt.usace.army.mil/library/Lake Texoma Land Transfer/2005-06-06 EA/Final EA 060605.pdf

 The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Tulsa District (USACE), is proposing to sell land within federal ownership at Lake Texoma, Oklahoma (figure 1-1), to the State of Oklahoma Commissioners of the Land Office (Land Office). Pursuant to the Water Resources Development Act of 1999 (Public Law [PL] 106-53 113 Stat. 359), approximately 1,580 acres of land currently leased to the Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department (OTRD) in Marshall County, Oklahoma, would be sold; however, the Land Office has requested that only 564 acres be conveyed. The purpose and need for the sale of the land is to comply with the requirements of the Water Resources Development Act of 1999.

(5) OTHER TERMS AND CONDITIONS.—The conveyance under paragraph (1) shall be subject to such other terms and conditions as the Secretary considers appropriate to protect the interests of the United States, including reservation by the United States of a flowage easement over all portions of the real property to be conveyed that are at or below elevation 645.0 NGVD.

Note: The total 1,580 acres of Corps land is depicted on the following Corps map link and extends in red from Little Glasses Creek located north of the Highway 70 bridge southeast to the approximate western end of the railroad bridge that crosses the Washita Arm of Lake Texoma.

http://www.swt.usace.army.mil/library/ShorelineManagementPlan/Texoma/map2.pdf

Oklahoma State Legislation

Oklahoma Statute, Title 74 Tourism and Recreation, Section 2223 requires replacement of the Lake Texoma State Park campground land.

§74-2223.  Sale of property within Texoma State Park - Replacement of campground land.

A.  The Commission may sell real estate and personal property owned or acquired by the State of Oklahoma or the Department, now or in the future, and under the jurisdiction of the Commission located within Marshall County and situated within Texoma State Park.

B.  The sale of real estate and personal property authorized pursuant to subsection A of this section shall be subject to all existing easements and reservations of record.  The Commission or Department shall transfer any interests held including, but not limited to licenses, operating permits and leasehold interests to a subsequent purchaser.

C.  The Commission and Department shall not be subject to the provisions of Section 129.4 of Title 74 of the Oklahoma Statutes for such sale.  All monies received from the sale of these properties, except those monies necessary to pay the expenses incurred pursuant to the sale, shall be deposited in the Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department Revolving Fund 215 ("215 Fund").  Revenue derived from such real estate and personal property sale deposited to the fund shall be utilized for the benefit of the state park system.  Such real estate and personal property sale shall not be subject to the provisions of Section 456.7 of Title 74 of the Oklahoma Statutes.

D.  For every developed acre of land containing recreational vehicle campgrounds and other campgrounds that is sold pursuant to this section, an equivalent amount of replacement land shall be selected by the Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department in a suitable area at Lake Texoma or in the vicinity, and developed to provide comparable outdoor public recreation facilities for operation as part of the Oklahoma state park system.

Added by Laws 2005, c. 363, § 24, eff. Nov. 1, 2005.

Land Sale

The State of Oklahoma Commissioners of Land Office (CLO) subsequently purchased approximately 558 acres of the 1,580 acres of Lake Texoma State Park land from the federal government. The 558 acres located on the north and south sides of Highway 70 were then advertised and are close to being sold in total or part to Pointe Vista Development as of January 12, 2008.

Oklahoma Governor Henry’s letter of 2/14/07 indicates 558 acres in the initial purchase and state interest in purchasing an additional 1,022 acres for a total of 1,580 acres. The remaining 1,022 acres of Corps land includes the Catfish Bay Campground (Boot area), the other Texoma State Park campgrounds and additional Corps leased land areas south to the Lake Texoma railroad bridge. Reference the Corps map above to observe the total 1,580 acres from Little Glasses Creek to the railroad bridge.

It is important to note that the federal government did not sell the adjacent land areas below elevation 645.0 National Geodetic Vertical Datum (NGVD) since they are included in the Corps flowage easement area that is retained by the federal government. Some of the adjacent flowage areas at or below the 645.0 elevation were leased by the State of Oklahoma for use as State Park beaches, campground and recreation areas. For example, the Oklahoma State Park Catfish Bay Campground or boot land area of Catfish Bay is all or substantially owned by the Corps since it is below the 645.0 elevation.

On the other hand, significant parts of the Oklahoma State Park campgrounds in other areas are above the 645.0 elevation level and are part of the remaining 1,022 acres of State Park land that is subject to sale from the Corps to the State of Oklahoma under WRDA 1999.

Privatization of the Lake Texoma State Park

The Oklahoma Governor has written a letter dated 2/14/07 to the Corps of Engineers indicating that the state is interested in purchasing the remaining 1,022 acres of federal land used for the Lake Texoma State Park. If the remaining federal land is purchased and resold to private interests, the state campgrounds must be replaced at Lake Texoma in accordance with the Oklahoma Statutes.

 For every developed acre of land containing recreational vehicle campgrounds and other campgrounds that is sold pursuant to this section, an equivalent amount of replacement land shall be selected by the Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department in a suitable area at Lake Texoma or in the vicinity, and developed to provide comparable outdoor public recreation facilities for operation as part of the Oklahoma state park system.

The state statute points out that all of the Lake Texoma State Park campgrounds must be replaced with equivalent land acreage and comparable public recreation facilities in terms of type, quality and quantity at Lake Texoma. 

Alternative Campground Sites on Lake Texoma

Recent informal information indicates that state officials are considering leasing or purchasing the existing Corps of Engineers Johnson Creek and possibly the Lakeside Recreation Areas located in Bryan County, OK and on Lake Texoma.

That raises the question if the alternative Corps Recreation Area campgrounds at Johnson Creek and Lakeside meet the Oklahoma statutory requirements for replacement stated above.

The Lake Texoma State Park campground facilities and campsites are indicated in an attached sitemap and campground comparison.

The Corps Johnson Creek and Lakeside Recreation area campground facilities and campsites are indicated in site maps available using the following links to the federal web site and campground comparison.

Note: The following data reflects the combined total of the Corps Johnson Creek and Lakeside Recreation Areas. If Johnson Creek is the only alternative campground selected by the state the number of alternative campsites and related facilities will be substantially less as indicated by the data.

 

                                    Texoma State Park               Corps Johnson Creek and Lakeside

Campsites                                212                                                      151 (61 less)

Water and electric                   Yes                                                      Yes

Dump station                          Yes                                                      Yes

Tent camping areas                 Several                                                            None

Acreage                                   Unknown                                            Unknown

Restrooms                               Yes                                                      Yes

Showers                                  Yes                                                      Yes

Boat launching ramps             Yes                                                      Yes

Picnic area                               Yes                                                      Yes, no-Johnson Creek signs

Swim beach areas                    Yes                                                      No

Group shelter                          Yes                                                      Yes

 

Alternative Campground Comparisons

• Advantages of reselling previously purchased State Park or returning State Park campgrounds to the Corps.
• The State will be able to substantially reduce or eliminate their long standing State Park commitments and obligations in Marshall County and at Lake Texoma.
• State Park campground land concession leases with the Corps at or below 645.0 NGVD can be terminated.
• Other concession leases adjacent to the State Park with the Corps and sub concessionaires may be terminated such as the Catfish Bay Marina.
• The state will be able to avoid participating in and funding required improvements to the infrastructure for the campgrounds, related facilities and remaining concessions such as electrical distribution, water supply and wastewater treatment facilities.
• Disadvantages of reselling previously purchased State Park or returning State Park campgrounds to the Corps.
• The Lake Texoma State Park campgrounds provide affordable outdoor recreation to a substantial part of the 7 million annual visitors to Lake Texoma.
• Shutting down the Lake Texoma State Park campgrounds and related facilities represents a net loss of 212 campsites at Lake Texoma even if the State assumes responsibility for the existing Corps Johnson Creek and Lakeside Recreational campgrounds.
• Shutting down the campgrounds with over 212 campsites and related facilities will have a major negative effect on public access to tourism and outdoor recreational use at Lake Texoma and South Central Oklahoma.
• The regional economic engine has been hard hit by previously shutting down the Lake Texoma State Park Lodge and 70 plus cabins as well as the impacts of the 2007 major flooding for the entire lake.
• According to public statements proposed commercial development at the Lake Texoma State Park by Pointe Vista Development will take several years before upscale and significantly more expensive tourism and recreational facilities are actually operational and open on a large scale to the public.
• Even after the proposed new upscale Pointe Vista tourist and outdoor recreational facilities are operation, the Oklahoma side of Lake Texoma will still have a substantial net reduction of affordable tourist and recreational facilities that attract the majority of tourists and visitors to the area.
• Marshall County tax and economic revenue relied heavily on customers of the Texoma State Park Lodge, cabins, campgrounds and other tourist and recreational facilities and will be seriously impacted by further closing of the Texoma State Park campgrounds.
• Using the existing Corps Johnson Creek and Lakeside Recreation Areas as a replacement for the existing Lake Texoma State Park campgrounds does not meet the previously Oklahoma State Statutory requirements.
• The 212 Lake Texoma State Park campground sites and acreage are not comparable to the combined total of 151 campsites and significantly less acreage for the Corps Johnson Creek and Lakeside Recreation Areas.
• Infrastructure, related facilities, roads and acreage are insufficient to support an additional 61 campsites to be comparable.
• Swimming beaches are not in place.
• The existing Corps Johnson Creek Recreation campground area is located north and east of Roosevelt Bridge in an area of Lake Texoma that has been experiencing exceptionally heavy siltation over the last several years.
• Lake water depths have decreased significantly and boating access for the Johnson Creek recreation area will be very difficult or impossible and hazardous in the future seriously depreciating the value of replacement campground property, boat launching ramps and facilities.

Lake Texoma State Park Campground Campsites

Camping Areas                                                                     Campsites

Catfish Bay Camping Area (1 to 119)                                 119 (incl. 19A)

            Includes several large tent camping areas                   (no. of tent campsites is unknown)

Rally Campground Area (400 to 450)                                 50

Rooster Creek Campground Area (500 to 544)                 44

Abandoned Campground Areas

            North side of Hwy 70 prior to 1996                           (30 est. campsites and facilities)

            Near Rooster Creek Bridge since 2000                      (20 est. campsites and facilities)

Total Lake Texoma State Park Campsites                         212 (Tent & est. campsites not incl.)

 

Corps of Engineers Recreational Areas (Nearby)

Johnson Creek (1 to 55)                                                        55

            Subtotal                                                                       55

Lakeside

            Area A (A-1 to 17)                                                     17

            Area B (B-1 to 23)                                                      23

            Area C (none)                                                               0

            Area D (D-1 to 31)                                                     31

            Area E (E-1 to 31)                                                      31

            Area F (F-1 to 34)                                                       34

            Subtotal                                                                       96

Total Corps Campsites – Johnson Creek and Lakeside   151

 

 

Summary

Lake Texoma State Park Campsites                                   212

Corps Campsites (Johnson Creek and Lakeside)             -151

Net difference between State and Corps Campsites          -61      

Online Maps and Graphics of Corps Johnson Creek and Lakeside Recreation Areas at Lake Texoma.

• Go to   www.recreation.gov
• In the left margin under State enter Oklahoma
• Park or Facility Name, enter Lakeside or Johnson Creek
• Under Facility Heading, click on Lakeside, OK
• Then click on Facility Map heading
• Click on Map graphic
• Scroll North, South, East and West on the graphic to observe campground areas such as B3, D24, etc.

Go back and click on Facility List heading to observe number of people, RV equipment length and amperage of electrical hookups.