Cooper Reservoir's low level attributed to little rain, pumping

By LYNN MONTGOMERY | East Texas Edition

A dock at Cooper Lake shows the severity of the low water level.

Dec. 16, 2004 - Water, or lack there of, is a concern to those interested in Cooper (Lake) Reservoir, near Cooper.

Rain, which is usually abundant in Northeast Texas, has not fallen into the lake.

"The Panhandle of Texas has had more rain than we have in Delta County," stated Thomas Peters at the Dec. 9 public forum in Gilmer.

Water levels at the lake are down, according to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE). Normal elevation is 440.00, but as of Dec. 10, the elevation was 434.39 meaning the lake is down over five-foot.

Lack of rainfall is only one reason for the lake level being so low. The other reason is water from the Cooper Reservoir is pumped to Lake Lavon and Lake Lewisville, which eventually is pumped to the metroplex.

Traci Wilner, based at Corps office at Cooper said, "They pumped all summer, all winter, and all summer and we didn't get the rain that is normal."

Pumping water to other reservoirs is taking great amounts of water from the lake. In one day, 100-million gallons of water was pumped from the reservoir. Another day, 87-million gallons of water was pumped, according to Wilner.

But, Wilner said there has been a "positive" with the lake levels being down. "We have had really bad erosion on the South side and have gotten the repairs made" due to the low level making it accessible.

Pumping has slowed at the site and Wilner added that the lake has "risen a foot since (Nov.) 29."

The low lake level bothers not only citizens of the Cooper area, but has been noticed by others, especially those who are concerned about future reservoirs being built to supply the metroplex with water.

"The metroplex had summer flooding, yet saw fit to pump Cooper dry, to show us there's a need for Marvin Nichols," stated Shirley Shumake.

"There is no recreation (at the lake) and you can't go fishing," was one of the comments voiced.

Known by locals as the "best kept secret" for fishing opportunity, they believe the low lake level will "drastically change the fish habitat."