Towns nearby
- Mount Pleasant, about 5 miles northeast
- Pittsburg, about 10 miles
- Mount Vernon
Lakes We Serve · Northeast Texas
Boathouses, docks and retaining walls on Lake Bob Sandlin.
A small county water district owns the ground under this lake, and it has written down almost everything: square footage, setbacks, roof pitch, how much shoreline you need. Build to it and the job goes smoothly. Miss it and the structure comes out.
Who Owns the Bank
Everything at or below 337.50 belongs to the District.
Not the Corps, not a river authority — Titus County Fresh Water Supply District No. 1, at 903-572-1844.
Lake Bob Sandlin impounds Big Cypress Creek behind Fort Sherman Dam, across Titus, Camp and Franklin counties. The dam was closed on August 19, 1977 and the lake reached its normal elevation of 337.50 feet above mean sea level on February 18, 1983. TPWD and the District both give 9,004 acres today, while the District's own history records approximately 9,500 at first fill. Maximum depth is 65.6 feet, and shoreline is commonly put at about 75 miles — a figure from lake guides rather than from the District or the Texas Water Development Board.
The District holds fee simple title to all land at or below 337.50 msl, plus a 100-foot flowage easement outside it. That is the whole story of permitting here: the ground your dock stands on is the District's, so piers, wharves, boathouses, marinas, docks, fences and barges are not allowed on it except by individual permit. A permit must be obtained before any work on the lakebed or over the water, and the District asks that the owner or contractor contact the office before construction begins.
The upside is that a lake owned this closely is also a lake that is easy to design for. Typical fluctuation is only 2 to 3 feet a year, one of the steadier reservoirs in East Texas. Drought response is defined by stage rather than left to chance — Stage 1 voluntary at 8 feet below pool, Stage 2 mandatory at 13 feet below, Stage 3 no outdoor watering at 18 feet below — so the range a structure has to tolerate is known rather than guessed.
The Dimensions
Almost every measurement is already decided.
This is one of the most explicitly written shoreline rulebooks in East Texas. Knowing it before design starts is most of the value a contractor brings on this lake.
1
Footprint and reach
A boathouse including slips and deck may not exceed 1,600 square feet; a pier may not exceed 400; all structures adjacent to one lot may not exceed 2,000 square feet in aggregate. A walkway may be added beyond that if it is no more than 6 feet wide. Structures extend no more than 75 feet from the 337.50 waterline, which the Executive Director may extend to a maximum of 150 feet at his discretion.
2
One of each, and enough frontage to hold them
No more than one boathouse and one pier per shoreline lot. A minimum of 100 feet of shoreline is required to have both — 25 feet minimum for a pier alone, 50 feet for a boathouse — and nothing may be built within 5 feet of a property line.
3
One story, and a roof with a specified pitch
Nothing may exceed one story. A rooftop deck is allowed but may not be enclosed or roofed, and roofs must be flat or no more than a 5-in-12 pitch. Outer weather walls are allowed if the bottom sits no lower than 4 feet below the roof edge or 4 feet above the floor, and one fully enclosed storage area of up to 100 square feet is permitted with no dimension over 6 feet.
4
No habitation, and no enclosed plumbing
No habitation, temporary or permanent. No enclosed plumbing fixtures — exterior exposed sinks and faucets only. Construction plans including floor plan, elevation plan and walkway must be submitted with the application and fee, and approved before work begins.
5
A 90-day clock, then an annual fee forever
Construction permits expire 90 days from issuance, with one 90-day extension available by calling the District. The District may inspect during construction and requires a call for final inspection. Once built, the permit converts to a renewable annual permit with a fee assessed on the entire square footage over the water — regardless of property lines or pool elevation — and unpaid fees can result in removal at the owner's expense.
Around the Lake
Wooded, already built out, and quietly busy.
Numerous private docks and fishing piers already line this shoreline — which tells you both that it can be done and that the District has seen every version of it.
Parks, ramps and marinas
- Lake Bob Sandlin State Park — 639.8 acres on the wooded northern shore, opened 1987
- State park boat ramp, lighted fishing pier and fish cleaning station
- 75 water-and-electric campsites, screened shelters and cabins
- Barefoot Bay Marina, about 5 miles from Pittsburg
- District boat ramps
Water clarity runs 2 to 4 feet, with inundated timber and aquatic vegetation covering under 3 percent of the surface, dominated by hydrilla. Six artificial fish habitat sites have been placed around the lake.
337.50′
Normal pool, ft msl
1,600
Sq ft boathouse footprint
75′
Standard reach from waterline
100′
Frontage for a pier and boathouse
Scope of Work
What Shoretech builds on Lake Bob Sandlin.
Every item below is drawn to the District's dimensions before it is drawn to anything else.
Boathouses & Covered Slips
Single-story boathouses laid out inside the 1,600-square-foot footprint, with compliant roof pitch, rooftop decks left open, and the permitted 100-square-foot storage area.
Boat Docks & Fishing Piers
Piers inside the 400-square-foot cap and docks reaching no more than 75 feet from the 337.50 waterline, with walkways held to the 6-foot width the rules allow.
Retaining Walls & Shoreline Reclamation
Retaining walls along the property line, and reclamation of eroded shoreline where the District approves it — with backfill material pre-approved and soil testing where required.
Permitted Dredging
Dredging under a District permit, confined to the footprint of the structure or to retaining wall backfill, with containment and silt screens in place throughout.
Questions We Hear
Lake Bob Sandlin FAQ.
Who permits a dock or boathouse on Lake Bob Sandlin?
Titus County Fresh Water Supply District No. 1, at 903-572-1844. The District holds fee simple title to everything at or below 337.50 msl, so docks, piers, boathouses, fences and barges need an individual permit before any work on the lakebed or over the water. Dredging and larger fills also involve the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
How much shoreline frontage do I need?
A minimum of 100 feet to have both a pier and a boathouse — 25 feet for a pier alone, 50 feet for a boathouse. One of each per shoreline lot, and nothing within 5 feet of a property line.
What happens if someone builds without a permit?
The District is explicit: a $250 charge, a citation from the District Police Department, and removal of the structure. Construction permits also expire 90 days from issuance, with one 90-day extension available by calling the office.
Is there an ongoing fee once the structure is built?
Yes. The construction permit converts to a renewable annual permit, with the fee assessed on the entire square footage over the water regardless of property lines or pool elevation. Unpaid fees can result in removal at the owner's expense.
Can I dredge behind a retaining wall?
That is one of the few dredging activities the District will approve. Every dredge — including work tied to retaining walls, shoreline contouring and boat ramps — needs a District dredging permit even where the Corps requires none, and is confined to the structure footprint or to wall backfill. More than 50 cubic yards discharged below 337.50 also needs a Department of the Army permit.
Dimensions and fees on this page come from the District's published shoreline rules; the current Schedule of Fees and the latest revision of the rules should be confirmed with the District office before a design is finalized. Variances go to the Board.
Nearby Water
More Cypress Basin lakes.
Start With a Conversation
Planning a project on Lake Bob Sandlin?
Tell Dave how much frontage you have and what you want on the water. On this lake the frontage number decides what is possible before anything else does.