A major milestone has officially been reached at Bois d’Arc Lake. 

Following years of planning, proposals, negotiations, and coordination, the North Texas Municipal Water District (NTMWD) Board of Directors has approved the Marina Lease and Use Agreement with JW Marina Development, LLC, clearing the way for development of the first public marina on Bois d’Arc Lake. 

The approval follows a unanimous recommendation from the NTMWD Real Estate Committee on August 26, 2026, followed by unanimous approval from the NTMWD Board of Directors on August 27, 2026, authorizing the Marina Lease and Use Agreement and allowing the first public marina on Bois d’Arc Lake to officially move forward. 

The marina will be developed by JW Marina Development, LLC, with Waterview Marinas serving as the marina manager and operator. 

For Bois d’Arc Lake and the greater Fannin County region, this represents much more than another development announcement. A full-service marina has the potential to become an important piece of the recreational and tourism infrastructure surrounding the lake, supporting boaters, property owners, visitors, businesses, and future economic development throughout the region. 

And while considerable design, permitting, infrastructure, and construction work remains ahead, the approval establishes a path toward something Bois d’Arc Lake has not had since opening to the public: a full-service public marina. 

Where Will the Bois d’Arc Lake Marina Be Located? 

The proposed marina site is on the east side of Bois d’Arc Lake, north of the new FM 897 bridge, on property adjacent to the lake.

NTMWD’s presentation identifies the approximate marina location as the site selected through the competitive RFP process.

This location puts the future marina along one of the lake’s primary transportation corridors, with FM 897 providing north-south access across Bois d’Arc Lake and connections toward US-82, FM 1396, and the surrounding Fannin County communities.

The developer retains rights to the underlying adjacent property, while Waterview Marinas will operate and manage the marina itself. The full marina is expected to be constructed in phases rather than all at once.

What Is Planned for the Bois d’Arc Lake Marina?

The long-term conceptual plan is substantial.

At full buildout, plans presented to NTMWD in the completed marina could include:

• Up to 500 boat slips
• Approximately 15 dock houses
• Two courtesy docks
• Breakwater
• Boat ramp
• Boat and trailer parking
• Boat/storage facilities
• Marina store
• Restaurant and retail
• Fuel facilities
• Wastewater pump-out facilities
• Roads, utilities and supporting infrastructure

Importantly, this represents the full conceptual buildout. NTMWD’s documents make clear that development is intended to occur in phases and future expansion will allow the marina to scale as demand at Bois d’Arc Lake grows.

Phase 1: At Least 200 Boat Slips Planned

The initial phase is already significant.

According to the concept presented to NTMWD, Phase 1 is planned to provide at least 200 marina slips.

The first phase includes the ramp, docks, and breakwater; a courtesy dock at the ramp; dredging and shoreline erosion control; retail/restaurant and fuel components; and the necessary parking, roads, stormwater improvements, and utilities.

The Phase 1 conceptual site plan also shows a new access road connecting toward FM 897, elevated water storage, a fuel tank, restrooms, parking and trailer parking, the boat ramp, marina store, and docks.

That infrastructure component is important.

Building a marina of this scale on a newly developed lake requires more than simply constructing docks. Road access, water, power, communications, parking, stormwater management, emergency access, and other infrastructure must all be designed to support the facility.

NTMWD specifically identified the need to widen an existing 50-foot access easement to at least 60 feet to comply with Fannin County street and road requirements. A new utility easement is also contemplated to bring water, power, and communications infrastructure to the marina site.

Dredging Is Part of the Marina Development Plan

Another important component is dredging.

Unlike a marina being built on an already-developed reservoir, Bois d’Arc Lake’s marina is being designed as the surrounding lake infrastructure continues to mature.

The lease establishes a defined area of NTMWD property and lake where the marina can operate. The precise lease boundaries will ultimately be memorialized through a survey during the design process, while the dredging area will continue to be refined during design and construction.

Dredging and shoreline erosion control are specifically identified as Phase 1 improvements.

That work will help establish appropriate depths and safe boating access within the marina area as the final dock configuration is engineered.

Who Is Developing the Bois d’Arc Lake Marina?

The developer selected for the project is JW Marina Development, LLC.

NTMWD identifies JW Marina Development as holding rights to develop certain parcels adjacent to Bois d’Arc Lake and partnering with an experienced marina manager/operator, Waterview Management Group, LLC, operating under the Waterview Marinas trade name.

Waterview is headquartered in Richardson, Texas, and its operating portfolio presented to NTMWD includes marinas across Texas, Oklahoma, and Florida.

Those include:

Texas

• Silver Lake Marina – Lake Granbury
• Twin Coves Marina – Lake Granbury
• Scott’s Landing – Lake Granbury
• Highport Marina – Lake Texoma

Oklahoma

• Keystone Harbor Marina – Keystone Lake
• Lake Murray Marina – Lake Murray

Florida

• Harborage Marina & Dry Stack – St. Petersburg

That operating experience was an important component of the proposal. NTMWD’s competitive evaluation specifically considered each team’s operational plan, financial capability and viability, project implementation and development, development schedule, project vision, and community and economic benefits.

How Was the Bois d’Arc Lake Marina Developer Selected?

The selection followed a two-step competitive solicitation process.

Step 1: Request for Qualifications (RFQ)

NTMWD first issued a Request for Qualifications.

Three firms submitted qualifications. NTMWD determined that all three were qualified and invited each to continue to the next stage.

Step 2: Request for Proposals (RFP)

The qualified firms then submitted detailed proposals.

NTMWD evaluated the proposals based on several factors, including:

Project Vision and Approach
Project Implementation and Development
Development Plan and Schedule
Operational Plan
Financial Capability and Viability
Community and Economic Benefits

Following submission, each firm was also invited to present its proposal directly to NTMWD.

The solicitation process was completed and negotiations with the selected proposer began in 2025.

The result was the selection of JW Marina Development and its partnership with Waterview Marinas.

A 50-Year Agreement Creates a Long-Term Partnership

This is not a short-term marina concession.

The approved structure provides for a 50-year agreement, consisting of an initial 35-year term, followed by extension options of 10 years and five years, respectively.

That long-term structure is significant because of the amount of private investment and infrastructure required to develop the marina.

The agreement also includes provisions addressing operations and maintenance, environmental protection, insurance, indemnity, default, and termination, reporting requirements, NTMWD inspection rights and the eventual restoration of NTMWD property.

How Much Will the Marina Pay NTMWD?

Rather than simply charging a fixed annual lease payment, the agreement establishes a graduated rental structure tied to the marina’s gross revenue.

The percentage begins at 2% and progressively increases based on annual gross rental revenue, eventually reaching 4.6% above $11.5 million in annual gross rental revenue. Boat and RV sales are subject to a separate 1% rate.

The structure means NTMWD’s rental revenue can grow alongside the marina if the operation becomes increasingly successful.

The agreement also includes reporting requirements and gives NTMWD audit rights.

How Soon Could the Bois d’Arc Lake Marina Open?

This may be the question Bois d’Arc Lake property owners and boaters care about most.

The agreement contains a prompt occupancy and use requirement.

The marina’s initial phase is required within 24 months, with the possibility of an additional six-month extension if permitting delays occur.

Assuming the agreement is executed shortly following the August 2026 approval and the development timeline begins without a qualifying delay, that points toward the initial marina being operational approximately by the third quarter of 2028.

If the additional six-month permitting extension becomes necessary, completion could move into approximately early 2029.

Marina Construction Will Be Closely Regulated

The marina will also have to meet extensive engineering, construction, and environmental requirements.

Plans must be reviewed and approved by NTMWD before construction, and designs must be approved by a licensed professional engineer.

Applicable standards include requirements associated with the National Electrical Code, Americans with Disabilities Act, International Building Code, Texas Clean Marina standards, Fannin County development requirements, and other defined engineering standards.

The developer must also demonstrate financing for the initial phase before construction.

Construction requirements include coordination meetings, inspections, payment and performance bonds, and delivery of as-built plans.

In other words, the August approval is an enormous milestone, but it is not the end of the development process.

It is the beginning of the next phase.

Environmental and Operational Rules Are Built Into the Agreement

NTMWD’s agreement contains a number of restrictions designed to protect Bois d’Arc Lake, maintain the marina, and regulate how the facility operates.

Among them, the marina must comply with Texas Clean Marina standards and maintain required records and reporting. NTMWD retains access to the lease area for monitoring and inspections.

The agreement also restricts a number of activities and materials, including unattended self-service fueling, hazardous-material storage on docks, engine maintenance on docks, certain used dock components, and materials such as treated lumber and encapsulated foam.

Habitation is also restricted. Overnight habitation is permitted only aboard a boat and is limited to no more than eight days during any 30-day period.

Those provisions help establish from the beginning that the facility is intended to operate as a professionally managed recreational marina rather than evolve into an unregulated residential dock environment.

What Does the Marina Mean for Bois d’Arc Lake Real Estate?

For property owners and prospective buyers, the marina adds another important piece of infrastructure to the developing Bois d’Arc Lake real estate market.

Bois d’Arc Lake already offers public boat ramps, private dock-capable shoreline, lakefront residential communities and an increasingly active recreational boating and fishing environment.

A marina introduces services that individual lakefront properties and public boat ramps cannot provide on their own.

Long-term, those may include:

Wet-slip access for property owners without private docks. Not every lake property is dock-capable, making marina slips particularly important for lake-view and interior property owners.

Fuel and boating services. Boaters will be able to access services from the lake rather than trailering boats elsewhere.

Dining and retail. A marina restaurant and retail component can create another recreational destination for residents and visitors.

Tourism infrastructure. A full-service marina provides another reason for anglers, boaters, and visitors to spend time—and money—in Fannin County.

Economic development. Marina employees, visitors, construction activity, restaurants, fuel sales, retail activity, and surrounding development all have the potential to contribute to the area’s growing lake economy.

It is important not to overstate the immediate effect on individual property values. Real estate values remain dependent on location, shoreline classification, water access, community amenities, acreage, improvements, market conditions, and numerous other factors.

But from a regional development standpoint, a public marina represents another significant piece of infrastructure that moves Bois d’Arc Lake further from a new reservoir toward an established lake destination.

A Major Milestone for Fannin County

Bois d’Arc Lake officially opened to the public on April 17, 2024, beginning a new chapter for Fannin County.

Since then, development surrounding the lake has continued to evolve rapidly.

Private lake communities have grown. Homes are being constructed. Private boat docks are beginning to appear along eligible shoreline. Recreational use continues to increase. New businesses and development opportunities are emerging around the lake.

Now, the first public marina has cleared one of its most important hurdles.

There is still plenty of work ahead.

Final engineering must occur. Permits must be secured. Infrastructure must be constructed. The marina itself must be built. Future phases will ultimately depend on market demand and the continued growth of the Bois d’Arc Lake region.

But approving the lease and development framework is a major step toward making the marina a reality.

For Fannin County, this is not simply about adding boat slips.

It represents another investment in the recreational infrastructure necessary to support Bois d’Arc Lake as a long-term tourism, residential and economic destination for North Texas.

And after years of talking about when Bois d’Arc Lake would finally have a marina, we now have a much clearer answer:

It is officially moving forward.