Illegal Habitat Destruction on Lake Lewisville *Video added*

I have video of a home developer shredding buckbrush with a Bobcat on the shoreline of Lewisville. I asked if he had a permit to clear COE land, and he did not. He took out about 200 ft of prime bass spawning cover in the back of a cove. Should I report it to COE? Is there anything they will do?

Wouldnt that be similar to clearing out the bank line, building a retaining wall, and digging out the water in front of it?

Well, not really.... but yes in that either way, you are required to get a permit on a Corps of Engineers Lake.

...and the COE does not give out permits to clear brush just because you want a nice beach in front of your lot. It was not his land to clear.

The COE will throw him under the bus if they see that video. They take that stuff very seriously. (or at least they do on Rayburn).

...Next time a truck goes speeding past me at 90 mph in a 65mph zone do you think I need to take a video of it and turn him in ?
...Next time I see a bass boat on plane in a no-wake zone do you think I need to take a video of his TX numbers and turn him in ?
***** no real concrete answer here *****
it basically boils down to WHAT "YOU" feel the need to do

Love social media ( which this is a form of and disclaimer, I dont have a FB account) I saw something I guess/know/assume/presume is wrong, but lets air it out in the court of public opinion as I am not intelligent enough to make a decision on my own as to what to do.


Report it and let us know the outcome,even if they say " mind your own business" Guess OP is scared of that or something.

This is a perfect forum to broach the subject and there is nothing unintelligent about getting feedback on the matter: whether it be regulatory or ethics related.

How about the next time somebody fells trees from your local city owned greenbelt/park to use for firewood? Or knowingly transplants an invasive, nonindigenous aquatic plant in a state owned body of water.

Why don't you choose something that is in the ballpark of analogous?

Look I was just trying to support what you are asking ..... but you have to make up your own mind.
as far as analogies ...... it doesn't matter the level of wrong,,,,,if it is wrong it is wrong. The decision is whether YOU think it is wrong enough to report.
I don't like speeders ..... it doesn't matter if it is 5mph over the speed limit or 20mph over the speed limit. I don't like tailgaters, you'll buy my bumper if you tailgate me...... and if drive on plane in a no wake zone around me I am taking a picture of your TX numbers and turning you in. ...... as far as cutting down trees to be used for firewood ..... do they need it for warmth or to cook a meal, if so I'll let it pass.

why in the He!! did you pick on me ...... I didn't say you were scared and needed social media approval. dang

I apologize. I thought your comparisons were insincere while the OP was being sincere, albeit maybe a little enthusiastic and ambitious. Anyway, please forgive me the trespass.

Snitches end up in ditches...

some years ago a developer cut down standing timber up in hickory he was fined small fortune. The shoreline flora is to be maintained for the benefit of wildlife, however a drive around the lake will tell you they don’t enforce it for brush. Trees may be a different issue.

Uh yah there is a whole lot of unintellingence in this one, in the form of not being able to make a decision on his/her own. Again, if OP feels that strong about it, report it, and let us know the outcome.

WHo actually got the fine? I don't remember

Yeah I don't know what's going on in this thread and I don't 100% know the laws about a COE lake but if it's me... I'm turning it in and doing a little more investigating. JMO.

Truth be told, I reported it to a COE ranger by voicemail yesterday while they were closed for MLK. My main purpose for posting was wondering how hard I should follow up as far as providing video etc. I was kind of trying to decide how mad I was about it. So thanks to the wisdom of the TFF, I have decided to do exactly what I want to do and send it. If I can't slash and burn federal land with no permit, then neither can he. People who don't snitch also sometimes end up in ditches.

Over half a million...

Fine

Let's try airing opinions without casting insults. The guy saw something happen and is seeking advice. Nothing in the world wrong with that.






I hope you have more sense than to follow that philosophy when your neighbor's house is getting broken in to.

See something, say something; it is the government's motto. Yeah, it is for consequential things like suspected terror attacks and other crimes. However, it can also be for the "not so" subjects...

Wow, very surprised that someone had the audacity to do something of this nature. I guess he thinks he owns the world. Please let us know the outcome. I spend a lot of time on Lew and this sorta makes me mad, too.

Cue the TFF attorneys. This a great place if you need legal advice.

Link no workie

Try this

Relinked

Depends on the neighbor..

why is there no video? topic says video?

Well I haven't heard those names in a long time... I figured Pinnell's name would pop up but that was a lot of money for sure...

He just increased his property value times double lol. Maybe we should do that for your new house too! @Coastalbent

I’d say something hes ruining a resource we all love. No spawning grounds no fishing. No one would think twice if he was tearing down a border wall

Lewisville is not Rayburn the COE in this case will orobably look the other way.

Kerr was a scapegoat. Pinnell hired him and Pinnell had too many connections within Texas gov...
The actual fine money was used to fix drainage issues on the North side of Pinnell's property so he could finish his development.
nothing to see here, move along.....

That looks like the same area where the work is being done. Where exactly is that?

It's not in Hickory creek. This is new development on the north end of the lake.

So my question is this. Does COE own all the land around the old lake and new lake? How do we know he didn't have permission to do that or COE doesn't own the land there. Just a question. Not trying to start any arguments.

I say that cause I just bought land at Fork and SRA has my waterfront. But I can still cut and do stuff.

Actually Big trees(I don't know the determining factor) even if they're dead, you are supposed to get permission for their removal. Not everyone will do that, it happens, but you are told to request it...
As far as the clearing of underbrush etc..has never been an issue for us in the past.. FYI

The COE owns all of the land around Lewisville, and the clearing you see in the video is definitely illegal. I confirmed with the bobcat driver and the owner of the lot that there was no permit. I left a follow up voicemail with the head ranger this morning. We'll see if they take action....

So if they got a permit and removed the same brush as is being done now, what's the difference concerning spawning habitat? If it's gone it's gone

Thanks for your insightful contribution to this conversation. You're exactly right. Once it's gone, it's gone. I'm trying to prevent them from taking out the rest of the cove. As I said before, COE does not issue permits to clear COE land just because an adjacent land owner wants a beach.

@CoastalBent. It is illegal and you took the right approach notifying the local COE. I hope you left good contact info and the fact you had video. Might just leave the message that if he doesn't get this you can contact the district commander.
http://www.swd.usace.army.mil/Media/News...rigadier-gener/

I don't think it'll interfere with spawning in the long run(IMO) but I do think it'll affect runoff for this spring. Probably affect fry survivability. The bottom line is an example must be made or everyone will do it.

Your bottom line is exactly right.