Public Meeting On Cooper Lake At Hopkins County Civic Center

–

Fort Worth District,

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers officials announced a public meeting on March 21 at 6:00 pm at the Hopkins County Regional Civic Center, 1200 Houston Street, Sulphur Springs. They will provide information and receive public input as it prepares to revise the Master Plan for Jim Chapman Lake, also known as Cooper Lake, and White Oak Creek Mitigation Area. After the presentation, the public will have an opportunity to view maps, ask questions, and provide comments about the project.

The USACE defines the Master Plan as the strategic land use management document that guides the comprehensive management and development of all recreational, natural, and cultural resources throughout the life of the water resource development project. The Master Plan study area will include Jim Chapman Lake proper, the White Oak Mitigation Area, and all adjacent recreational and natural resources properties under the USACE administration. Key topics to be addressed in the revised Master Plan include revised land classifications, new natural and recreational resource management objectives, recreation facility needs, and special issues such as invasive species management.

Not addressed are the detailed and technical operational aspects of the Master Plan of the reservoir related to the water supply, flood risk management, or shoreline management permitting missions of the project.

They wrote the current Master Plan for Jim Chapman Lake in 1988 and the White Oak Mitigation Area Supplement in 1990, far beyond the intended 25-years. The revision is necessary to address regional land use, population, outdoor recreation trends, and USACE management policy changes. Public participation is critical to the successful modification of the Master Plan. You can inquire about the proposed revision by sending questions to Matt Seavey, Lake Manager, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, 64 Clear Springs Park, Texarkana, TX 75501. Information about the meeting and Master Plan Revision is available on the following website: https://www.swf.usace.army.mil/About/Lakes-and-Recreation-Information/Master-Plan-Updates/Jim-Chapman-Lake/. 

Documents related to the public meeting can be downloaded from that website beginning March 18.