Kenneth Myers, a lake manager for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, told the Highland Village Parks and Recreation Advisory Board on July 21 that the Corps has identified more than 150 unpermitted or "illegal" boat docks and similar structures on Lake Lewisville and is starting an enforcement campaign aimed at voluntary compliance.

Myers said the Corps has begun broad outreach through homeowner associations and a public-affairs video and asked owners to remove illegal structures; the Corps asked for voluntary compliance by June 1 and has already seen some removals. "We kind of went around and did a created a bit of a database on all of the illegal boat docks that we have out there, and we've got over 150, and that's lake wide," Myers said. He said the Corps has not yet broken that total down to the number within Highland Village city limits.

Why it matters: Corps-managed shoreline and facilities are federal public property. Sites that are unpermitted can limit public access, change shoreline conditions and, Corps staff said, create safety and rental concerns when private docks are used to run rental boats or jet-skis. The Board heard the Corps intends to escalate enforcement for repeat or noncompliant owners, which could affect waterfront homeowners and local renters.

What the Corps told the board: Myers described a stepwise approach. Corps staff are first asking for voluntary removals via HOAs and a short public video. Where that fails, they are prioritizing individual outreach: notice letters, door hangers and, ultimately, more formal enforcement steps. Those steps could include holding up approvals for easement-related requests, issuing citations, requiring mandatory court appearances, or physically removing and impounding structures at the owner's expense. "If we can't still get voluntary compliance ... we might have to look at citation as mandatory appearance, things like that," Myers said.

On impoundment the Corps said owners would be able to reclaim removed items but likely would face recovery costs, possible citations and an administrative storage period. "When they're impounded, we have to keep things that are impounded for up to 6 months, and then we either get rid of it through either homeowner or the owner comes and gets it, auction or destruction," Myers said.

Scope and legal basis: Myers said the Corps' inventory is lakewide and concentrated in particular coves; he could not provide an immediate Highland Village-specific count. He described roughly 60 docks that are grandfathered, permitted decades ago, but said Congress has not allowed new permanent boathouses or docks on Corps-managed sections of the lake and that unpermitted structures contravene federal rules. "It is a violation of title 36 code of regulations," Myers said, referring to the Corps' regulatory authority.

Enforcement resources and limits: Corps rangers supporting Lake Lewisville total five staffers (one lead and four rangers), Myers said, and rangers are often occupied with summer recreation patrols. He said the Corps plans to accelerate direct enforcement in the fall when staff workloads ease. "Right now, our rangers are in summer mode recreation, so they're pretty well tasked doing other things. But come fall, we're gonna start ramping it up a little bit more," he said.

Permits and appeals: Myers said there is essentially no avenue to obtain a new long-term permit for structures because authorized docks and boathouses are relicensed only in limited grandfathered circumstances. He said the Corps still processes and may transfer previously issued permits, but "no new permits" are being issued. He told the board there is not a meaningful administrative appeal route for owners who lack authorization, though owners could seek permits where allowed and could challenge enforcement through the courts if they chose.

Board questions and next steps: Board members asked for clarification on what counts as a violation (docks, jet-ski rigs, mooring posts) and whether there will be warnings prior to impoundment. Myers confirmed the Corps intends progressive enforcement: warnings, citations and then impoundment as necessary, and that the Corps will document outreach if a case goes to court. He also requested assistance from the city and board in communicating shoreline and ecological impacts to residents to improve voluntary compliance.

What the Corps asked of Highland Village: Myers asked local staff and the advisory board to share the Corps' short informational video and outreach materials with neighborhood associations and residents, and to help explain ecological and shoreline impacts of private docks to encourage compliance.

The board had no formal vote or motion on enforcement; the Corps' plan is a staff-led enforcement sequence that the Corps will implement and that the board and city staff can support through outreach and information-sharing.

Ending: The board scheduled no formal action but received the update and was asked to consider local outreach support. Corps staff said they will continue communications and escalate enforcement where voluntary compliance fails.