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Heck - I was gonna ask what kind of fish he was going to take that requires .357 round...

The lands 'under' the lake are fee-owned by the US Government just as are the lands purchased above the high pool level AND the areas like White Oak Creek Mitigation Area (managed by TPWD) which was purchased fee-simple by the US Government to offset the bottom land environment lost to Cooper Dam / Jim Chapman Lake (also managed by TPWD). The US Government owns the land in entirety in the lake, including the former thalweg, as well as a specific land amount up and downstream where the original river or creek ('crik') still flows within its original banks.

The water in a USACE operated lake is like a layer cake - a certain level is kept for recreation (if in the lake's authority), a certain amount is available for water supply (owned by the water district or river authority), and a certain portion is available above the water supply top level for flood storage.

Look at the specific District's website to find out what lakes have leased/licensed parks etc. The TPWD website always mentions if a lake, park, or mitigation area is USACE-owned. The only real exception is O.C. fisher, which does not appear on the Fort Worth District website, even though fee-owned and constructed by the Corps, because the Corps does not maintain a presence at O.C. Fisher and it is managed by TPWD. Still Federal land though and USACE regs still apply - but no Corps personnel present... so...

pbwalker wrote:Keep an eye out for CoE parks...it's federal land, so no-go

Yep - there are several TPWD parks and mitigation areas that are on Federal lands owned by USACE.