Residents of Hood County have long known that Lake Granbury is an urban gem hiding just outside one of the largest metropolitan areas of Texas. But it seems the secret is now out. The growing popularity of the reservoir, along with population growth in the county, have led to unintended consequences for the lake: increased boating traffic and increased hazardous conditions for everyone sharing the space.
"We've had a few close calls, and we want to head something off before something really bad happens," said Kyle Lewis, project manager/program coordinator at the Brazos River Authority’s Lake Granbury Office.
To help ensure safety, the BRA is extending three of existing No-Wake Zones on Lake Granbury and creating one new No-Wake Zone that boaters should be aware of before heading out to the lake this spring.
"A boat doesn't have brakes," said Lewis. "Boats coast to a stop, and if you're going too fast, it is harder to avoid collisions."
A boat's wake, the wave it generates, is a product of its speed and the amount of water it displaces. A No-Wake Zone slows everyone down, which is important in a congested areas of the lake.
So, what is a No-Wake Zone?
There are no traffic signs on the lake. Instead, there are a variety of buoys and markers that identify important information for boaters, whether that's to identify hazard areas for the boater’s safety or to protect those on the shoreline.
No-Wake Zones are strategically located to ensure safety in congested areas, such as marinas, commercial areas, or boat ramps. Buoys are used to mark an area where boats and personal watercraft must operate at a slow headway speed that does not create a wake or swell. These can-style buoys have the words Slow/No-Wake plus a regulatory circle emblem on them, that meets the requirements for the navigation system for inland waterways.
In addition to increasing safety for boaters, No-Wake Zones also protect against further damage to shorelines as strong, continuous wakes can advance erosion around the reservoir.
"When you're at idle speed, you have the time to avoid any potential hazards," Lewis said. "There's not a way to suddenly stop a boat apart from striking something hard. And that's what we want to avoid."
In some of these locations over the past year, the BRA has had numerous complaints of reckless boaters and have increased patrols and written citations; yet, there have been an increasing number of accidents occurring on the reservoir, leaving the organization with the need to find new ways to keep everyone safe.
As a result, the BRA has created one new and extended three existing No-Wake Zones on Lake Granbury.
No. 1 – Near DeCordova Bend Park
This new No-Wake Zone is located adjacent to the existing designated swim area near DeCordova Bend Park. Located closest to the dam off Rainey Court. The area will stretch down the western shoreline, then north into the cove encased by Rainey Court and John Gee Court.
No. 2 – Near Pecan Plantation Marina
An existing No-Wake Zone starts to the east of the Pecan Plantation marina near Mambrino Highway. This No-Wake Zone has been extended west approximately 1,200 feet and approximately 200 feet from the shoreline.
No. 3 – Near Indian Harbor Marina
The existing No-Wake Zone near the Indian Harbor Marina on the west side of the reservoir has been extended approximately 500 feet to the east to slow boaters down before entering the marina area.
No. 4 – Near Rough Creek Park
The cove near Rough Creek Park, off S. Morgan Street, is one of the most congested areas on the reservoir. This No-Wake Zone has been extended approximately 600 feet to the east toward the main body of the lake.
Changes to No-Wake Zones are scheduled to go into effect February 15, 2025. There will be a 90-day grace period before BRA citations are written to allow boaters to become accustomed to the new No-Wake Zones.
The Texas Department of Transportation is in the planning process of a project that would improve about nine miles of U.S. 377 in the city of Granbury and Hood County, which includes widening the portion of the bridge over Lake Granbury. Learn more about that project here.
When that construction comes to pass, the No-Wake Zone around the U.S. 377 bridge will be extended to accommodate the additional roadway. Currently, the No-Wake Zone extends about 700 feet downstream of the bridge.
Boaters that violate the No-Wake Zone could face a Class C misdemeanor, with fees up to $500. In Texas, boaters are also responsible for any damage caused by their vessel’s wake, whether they are in a No-Wake Zone or not. A vessel’s wake can cause damage to other boats or injury to their occupants.
Most people don't realize the wake size that boats can produce. Slowing down is much easier on your wallet than being confronted with costly repairs to someone else's property.
And, it's not just in No-Wake Zones that watercraft operators must slow down. On BRA reservoirs, watercraft users are required to operate at a no-wake speed when within 100 feet of a shoreline, a boathouse, a dock, other boats, swimmers, or a downed skier.
Let your wake this summer be a trail of smiles, not ripples of frustration or damage. Remember to Watch Your Wake!
To view a map of Lake Granbury, click here.