Interested in waterfront living on Lake Granbury?

BRAZOS RIVER AUTHORITY

Kyle Lewis is the Lake Granbury Project Manager/Program Coordinator for the Brazos River Authority

Interested in buying a house on Lake Granbury? Here’s what you need to know before you start looking for your dream property.

Lake Granbury has 121 miles of shoreline and covers 8,282 acres. The reservoir, along with gorgeous views, has five BRA public access areas for picnicking, fishing and boat launches, with four of the parks offering primitive camping sites.

However, living on a lake comes with both privileges and responsibilities. Boating, fishing and hunting within steps of your home are some of those benefits.

But the water stored in the reservoirs is most likely the same water that is treated and later flows to your home faucets. Maintaining the lake’s ecological health is extremely important to the health and well-being of both your family and so many others that rely on the water for daily consumption. As a result, lakeside residents must properly maintain septic systems, regularly service boat motors and properly dispose of leaves, debris and trash from their property to help ensure the water stored in the reservoir remains safe as a drinking water source.

There are other aspects of lakeside living to consider. Here are some issues your realtor may not be familiar with: 

n Is the property located in a FEMA-identified flood plain? 

n Will flood insurance be necessary? 

n Are drinking water and sewer systems available from a local municipal provider, or does the home require drinking water wells or septic systems?

n Does the property have a flowage easement allowing all or part of the area to be periodically flooded? If so, will specific building permits or designs be required to protect the property?

n Is your preferred area of the reservoir deep enough to support your current or future choice of watercraft?

n Does the property come with dock, walkway and/or boat ramp facilities? If not, what will the cost be to build and maintain these structures?

n Is erosion of water-side property an issue or are facilities such as retaining walls already present?

n Will the property be likely to accumulate debris that you’ll need to clean up?

These and other concerns are all points to consider before you buy. 

PERMITTING PROCESS

Maintaining a safe environment for both drinking water and physical structures around the reservoir involves a permitting process. The BRA requires permits for dock facilities, landscape and lawn irrigation water and construction improvements including retaining walls and dredging.

On-site sewage facility permits are available through Hood County Environmental Health Department.

With each property presenting different concerns, contacting the lake office is the best way to set your lakeside living dreams in motion. The BRA staff can provide you with direct information regarding your specific property of interest.

All BRA permits are available to view and download at https://brazos.org/

IT’S AN OPEN BODY OF WATER

Finally, please remember that the lake is a flowing water body, not a swimming pool. While the views are fabulous, expect wildlife to cross your property freely. Fishing from your own dock is great, but you may experience periodic golden algae fish kills. And docking your boat in your own private facility is the dream of a lifetime, but drought conditions could make accessing water difficult at times, as Lake Granbury may fluctuate as much as 18 feet low.

brazos.org/LivingGranbury | 817-573-3212