The economic benefits derived from outdoor recreation on Lake Texoma far exceed the benefits suggested by some developers for projects along the shoreline using federal land. Their proposals for the primary private use of a few can decrease economic benefits from public recreation.

Lake Texoma is widely described and recognized as one of the most important large lakes in the Southwest for fishing, hunting, boating, camping and other outdoor public recreation. The lake is a dynamic engine that generates jobs and economic benefits for thousands of local and regional individuals and businesses.

This huge, beautiful lake is one of the most popular vacation destinations in the Southwest. It's famous for its great fishing, excellent marinas and resorts, its natural beauty and lively nightlife. Lake Texoma spans the Texas/Oklahoma border just 75 miles north of Dallas and 121 miles south of Oklahoma City.

Lake Texoma is great for all types of boating from power to sail. Boat launching ramps and marina boat slips are available around the lake. There's usually so much activity you can be entertained just watching all the boats on the lake. Personal watercraft, water skiers and wind surfers all consider the lake an excellent place to have fun. The serpentine shape of the lake creates plenty of sheltered coves so it's always possible to find a calm, quiet spot even on the windiest days. You'll find any type of boat available to rent or to buy - from personal watercraft to ski boats to party barges and houseboats.

Of course, mention Lake Texoma to a fishing enthusiast and they'll immediately think "striper!" Texoma is famous for excellent fishing for striped bass and other species. Plenty of professional fishing guides are available to ensure a great experience whether you're a novice or a seasoned angler.

This area is an immense playground - even off the water. Two wildlife refuges, two state parks, fifty-four U.S Army Corps of Engineers - managed parks and recreation areas, twenty-six resort-marinas and hundreds of campgrounds surround the lake.

Several public hunting areas are available for deer, wild turkey, ducks, geese, quail and other wild game.

Lake Texoma enjoys a well - deserved reputation as a major boating and outdoor recreation lake. The expansive lake is deep, with miles of boating shoreline dotted with great anchoring spots on sandy beaches or in secluded coves. Some of the best places are only accessible by water. The lakeside terrain varies from dramatic rocky cliffs to tree - covered slopes, adding to the boating experience.
     
To say the fishing is great on Lake Texoma would be an understatement. Texoma offers a fishing experience to appeal to just about any sporting spirit. Given the size of the lake and the variety of species and habitats found on Texoma, it’s a safe bet anglers will never be bored.

 Black bass, sand bass, small mouth bass, crappie, bluegill, catfish and others are abundant, but the king of Texoma fish has to be the “striper.” Striped bass (affectionately called stripers) are native to ocean waters. Since stripers were introduced here in the late 1960s Texoma has become known for some of the best striper fishing in the Southwest. In fact, very few lakes in the United States can match Texoma.

 The white bass, often called sand bass, is another popular fish. “Sandies” receive a lot of attention in the spring when massive schools travel to spawn in the creeks and streams that feed into the lake. Another popular time for sand bass is the summer when they school on the surface.

  Lake Texoma is invariably mentioned in conversations about catfish—especially conversations about blue catfish. Texoma has produced a number of record fish—one Texoma “cat” weighed in at 118.5 pounds—as well as plenty of fish big enough to inspire more than a few fish tales.

 From bank fishing to boat fishing, from angling in a quiet cove to trolling the open water, the choices are here. It’s no wonder why fishing is one of the most popular activities on Lake Texoma and why Lake Texoma is one of the most popular fishing spots in the Southwest.

Note that most of the above recreational activities can be negatively affected by conversion of “protected and low-density use” Corps land to private use for boat houses, mooring buoys, golf courses, etc. next to the shoreline and in coves. These proposed conversions for private use will also jeopardize the economic benefits since the most attractive features for the lake will be seriously degraded.

A good example is the coves and eastern shoreline of the Little Mineral arm of the lake indicated in this map. This Corps land has been used for years by hunters, fisherman, hikers, wildlife photographers, swimmers and boaters and has quite a history. Joe Dopei owned several hundred acres of the land around Grand Pappy’s. Years ago Mr. Dopei wanted to improve the wild life for hunting. He found out about excess deer in south Texas that had to be relocated, hooked up his cattle trailer and traveled south. He loaded the excess deer in his trailer and hauled them back to his land near Grand Pappy’s. But the story doesn’t stop there. Mr. Dopei noticed that the deer were fairly small so he obtained a large buck from a northern state to improve the herd. It worked, the deer size increased significantly over the years.

Today the deer herd has grown and has spread out over the south shore of the lake. Wild turkey, ducks, geese, quail, and other wild life are also plentiful in the area. The woods, open fields and several old gravel pits provide cover and habitat for wild life. Hunters, wild life photographers, hikers and other people enjoy the outdoor recreation the area provides. This quality of land is rapidly disappearing.

The coves in this area of Little Mineral are choice spawning grounds for several species of fish and other marine life in the food chain. Fishermen have ample opportunities to test their skills and catch their limits. Boaters and their families and friends love the sheltered coves and natural beaches for swimming, boat camping and just relaxing from their normally busy lives. They provide safe sanctuary in storms and overnight stays.

Note that virtually all of the western shore of Little Mineral bay and near Grand Pappy Point are already zoned for and have three commercial marinas, resorts, higher intensity use public recreational areas and parks indicated in red on the following map.

Other good examples exist all around the lake such as the locally known Butterfly and Pump House coves north of Eisenhower State Park with towering shoreline cliffs, huge boulders, deep water sheltered coves and beaches used extensively by boaters, fishermen, bald eagle photographers and sightseers. These priceless coves are only available to the public by water. There are many other examples of valuable natural lake assets that draw people to Lake Texoma ’s Oklahoma and Texas outdoor recreation areas. They contribute greatly to the local and regional economies such as using motels, restaurants, shopping centers, boating and fishing supplies, vehicle fuel and the related taxes that benefit the city and county governments.

People travel locally and from all over the nation to enjoy the beauty and outdoor recreation provided by Lake Texoma and dedicated federal areas such as the above examples. Their recreational activities contribute greatly to the economy of the entire lake area and to the benefit of local and regional businesses, cities and individuals.

Lake Texoma has billions of dollars of infrastructure, wildlife and fisheries already in place, hundreds of millions of economic benefit dollars from annual recreational activities and millions of dollars of proposed developments. For example, in 2003, Texas ranked third behind Florida and California in the sale of boats, motors, trailers and accessories. Texas boaters spent $887 million on those items in 2003. Lake Texoma is one of the largest lakes in Texas and would include a significant share of the $887 million spent by Texas boaters. That is just for Texas boater equipment and does not include what the boaters in Oklahoma and the hunters and fishermen in Texas and Oklahoma spend on equipment for Lake Texoma and its shoreline.

We should not allow aggressive promoters and developers to use protected federal land to kill the goose that laid the golden egg primarily for their profits. Note that the benefits from developers of federal land primarily for private purposes pale in comparison to the annual benefits from outdoor public recreation. Some of the developments can actually reduce the number of visitors to key lake boating, fishing and hunting areas that are eliminated. Cities should not allow a promoter to profit from one development to the detriment of the much larger benefits received from all of the outdoor recreation activities.

The lake already has a multitude of public recreational facilities such as twenty-six resort-marinas with over a thousand boat slip vacancies that could easily be used by new home and condominium owners. The developers really do not need to build “private boat garages” in the most beautiful coves on the lake. We like and enjoy boat house/garages. But it simply does not make sense to allow them to be established or maintained in highly desirable and attractive coves used and greatly enjoyed by the public.

Moreover, these protected deepwater coves provide safe sanctuary during hazardous weather. Boaters often escape to the sheltered coves causing serious overcrowding. They try to escape injury, damage or sinking in violent thunderstorms, 70 to 80 mile per hour winds and three to five foot waves. Approving additional boat garages in these coves will increase an already unsafe condition.

The major benefits derived from outdoor recreation on Lake Texoma are often taken for granted and are assumed to last forever. They may not endure some of the strong efforts to convert public federal land and shoreline primarily for private use unless we take action. All of us are stewards for the natural beauty, environment, outdoor recreation and resulting economic benefits. We need to do our part to maintain the lake’s legacy for our children and their grandchildren.