I have heard several different rumors for why LOP has been experiencing unusually low water levels for such as long time, ranging from the gates being stuck open, to the COE lowering the water level to rebuild the 155 bridge, but have never confirmed either of these rumors. The notion that the gates are stuck open sounds like BS and I don't see why they would need to lower the level to rebuild the bridge? It's not like they drain the oceans or bays when they build bridges over parts of them? But, it would not surprise me if the COE felt like that was the only option in order to get the bridge repaired.

I am just sick and tired of LOP being as low as it is, for as long as it has, and there has been no explanation from the COE. Being a homeowner on the lake, it sucks to have a 100' long boat dock stretching out into the water and to only have maybe 10 or 12 inches of water at the end of it. Adding to this, is the fact that the closest ramp to my house, Copeland Creek, has been out of commission and basically unusable for almost 2 years, and from what I can tell they have no plan to rehab this facility, citing a lack of funding. I would think they could use some of the money from the fees collected at various boat ramps around the lake to help fund this, but may I am wrong, or I don't know the whole story. That's fine, but someone tell me the story then! Before anybody starts in on me about the lake not being built for fishing or recreation, I am fully aware that its main purpose is for flood control of Caddo and to supply water to surrounding towns, but this is getting old, and last I checked Caddo was doing fine. If they never planned on the lake being for fishing or recreation, then they should have saved what little money they did spend on the various parks for camping that they have around the lake and done something else with it. The majority of the boat ramps on the lake have even been open more than 30 to 45 days out of the last 12 months! Every time that we have had a good rainfall, the lake comes up a few inches, just like it should, only to be quickly drained right back out within a week after the rainfall. If anyone could shed some light on this, I am all ears! Sorry for the rant, but I feel better now.

I am absolutely with you on this rant. It is rediculous the level they have kept the lake at. The bridge rebuild story is total BS, just rumor, I used to work on bridge jobs for the TxDOT, they can drive pilings in 6" of water as easily as they can in 25'. I do not know the reason for them continuously sucking down the lake everytime we get some water but I believe it has a number of reasons.

First off, precious little caddo is the darling "only natural lake" in texas and LOTP will always play the step child to caddo. Hence the history of pines being prone to low and flood stage water, if caddo needs it, take it from pines, if caddo is high, make pines hold it.

Another thing that plays into that is the flooding situation, I remember back in like fall of 07' I think was the year when we got the floods and pines rose to like 10' in two weeks. During that time the red swelled to 1' shy of flooding Shreveport. During this time texoma was crashing the dam and they had to let her go, I remember they sent the word to ranchers in southern Arkansas to remove their livestock from the river basin land cuz they had to let open texoma's gates before they lost the dam. Well pines had to hold because they couldn't compound this problem by sending more down the cypress and 12 mile bayou into Shreveport.
Well a lot of fuss was made about why in the heck was texoma unable to hold any water and why was it so full to begin with. A lot of big money recreation out of dfw is the reason pulling strings because they wanted a lake that was full pool instead of low. I heard that some heads rolled in the COE because of what happened at texoma and because they lake wasn't able to do what it was intended to do, hold back the floods of the red and keep Shreveport dry.

So I believe that pines is being kept low because they would rather hear moaning from the general lowly citizens than be put on the chopping block the next time the floods come and pines isn't able to hold any water cuz it's already full.

The thing is to me, what is the difference in 2-3 foot, they cod bring her up to 228-229 and it would make a difference if the floods came and she was pool. Now on some lakes that's big like caddo, but pines is steep banked for the most part and can handle 10-12 foot high water. When you're talking about things getting that crazy what is the difference in 2'.

Not to be a jerk or anything. . .but get over it. LOP is nothing compared to what is going on in West Texas. The people of Bronte, Texas no longer have drinking water, it has to be trucked in, because all the water around them has dried up.

And lowering the water level to do work is nothing unusual or new, the COE does it to multiple lakes every summer to fix concrete - usually ramps, dams, etc.

I get crazy seeing people complain about not being able to get to their favorite fishing spot or blaming the COE because of the low water.

NEWS FLASH - We are in the midst of a MAJOR drought still. Every damn lake in the state is low. We simply don't have enough water for the demand and lake that is 2 feet low should be the least of your worries. When the faucet in your kitchen and bathroom stop working, maybe everyone will look at this from a little different perspective.

Haha this guy ^^^^^^^

WHOA! sorry partner but saying us that live in east texas around pines shouldn't complain about its water level because there are some people living in a desert out in west texas that have to have drinking water hauled in is like saying you cant ever complain about an extra long cold winter because people on the north slope are cold...... that dog wont hunt my friend. pines is far far far from only being 2 foot low... he was only asking for 2 feet .... drive 2 hours around this lake in most directions and almost every lake is in a good reasonable shape... A lot of lakes are full or high!
when you have 15 small lakes around you that (may be a little low) are in great conditions water level wise but stuck in the middle is this ONE lake that is KEPT extremely, dangerously low on purpose then we that love that lake should find out why. that lake does not HAVE to be that low.. I understand the caddo situation and i am fine with that.. longview along with several other cities takes drinking water.. but there is a river that runs through that lake.... shut the gates enough to get the water levels up as to not be a bad danger and most people i know would be happy happy happy.... a few feet in that lake could turn that lake from a [censored] hole into a paradise and we that have lived here all our lives remember what that lake can be! and we want it back.... i feel bad for anyone that doesn't have water to drink but if you live in a place covered in sand and cactus, mesquite and tumble weeds you might get thirsty.. don't like it move out to somewhere that rains every week...

On the same note if you don't like the water level at the lake you live on or fish then find another lake to suite your needs according to your theory

It seems like you realize the value and importance of water. Why is it wrong for the people that live on, enjoy, and depend on Pines to desire more of this valuable resource? In West Texas lakes are low because they have not received rain. Pines is low because they have steadily released water to an already full Caddo lake. The Corp website says Pines is 2 feet low; however, that is based on a seasonal pool level. I believe the lake is closer to 4-5 ft low.

I agree I havnt fished on pines in over a year I go to all the snall lakes near bye but what a waste of resource

I wish Matt at the Corp office would reply.

I know he looks at the TFF.

I have fished this lake for a long time and I love the lake. But, it is high time that somebody's hand is called on why they won't let the lake come up. There is dought that we have been in a drought over the past few years, but we have had the rain to fill the lake up.

It is a crying shame the lake has gotten to this. It has been a premier bass lake for many years.I have never seen it this low for so long.

The older I've gotten, one thing I've learned is to never accept at face value anything you hear from "the authorities".

We were just told within the last month that the dam at Lake Tyler is leaking. The Tyler city official whose office "runs" the lake assures us that the leak is only 30 gallons per minute, and that it would take 91 years for a leak this size to lower the lake level one foot.

He goes on to say that one reason the lake is not filling is because there are so many ponds that are low that are catching runoff. That seems awfully fishy considering every pond I see is full, but what's eyewitness observation when we can listen to a government employee instead?

I'm somehow trying to reconcile in my mind why we get lectures over and over about making sure we don't have faucets that leak or toilets that run...and yet the City of Tyler has known for years that their dam is leaking and has done nothing about it.

Speaking of knowing for years, if the city really discovered the leak in 2010 as they claim, why are the citizens just now finding out about it?

And...what tends to happen to water leaks, especially those involving the kind of water pressure that must exist at the bottom or Lake Tyler? Can you say "expand"?

The battle between east and west Texas continues. Lol water is more valuable than gold these days. On a side note Lake Arlington is full!!

I could not agree more. The idea of the COE changing the "normal pool" level from time to time during the year is nothing more than a shell game meant to make their numbers look better to the general public. To say that Pines is only 2' low is complete bullsh!t.