greenbelt revitalization task force

The Greenbelt Revitalization Task Force is a collaborative Blue Water Initiative focused on restoring, reopening, and reimagining the Elm Fork of the Trinity River paddle trail below the Lake Ray Roberts Dam. This federally engineered waterway, originally constructed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, connects Lake Ray Roberts to Lake Lewisville and is currently operated under contract by Texas Parks and Wildlife Department as part of Lake Ray Roberts State Park.

While this corridor was designed to function as a navigable recreational waterway, years of flood events have deposited massive debris piles and fallen legacy trees that now render critical sections impassable, unsafe, and underutilized. The Task Force exists to change that.

The Elm Fork Greenbelt is uniquely positioned to become North Texas’s premier paddle corridor:

• It links two major reservoirs through a protected riparian environment
   
• It sits adjacent to rapidly growing municipalities
   
• It already attracts paddlers, anglers, hikers, birders, and families
   
• It is managed public land with existing recreational designation
   

Yet today, large logjams, century-old fallen sycamores, and accumulated storm debris prevent safe passage in key stretches, particularly from the Ray Roberts Dam downstream toward FM 380. These conditions limit public access, create dangerous strainers for paddlers, and block emergency response routes.

This is not a volunteer clean-up problem. It is an infrastructure-scale challenge that requires coordination, planning, and heavy-duty solutions.

The Blue Water Initiative component of the Task Force focuses on transforming the Greenbelt from a fragmented, seasonal route into a continuously navigable blueway comparable to nationally recognized urban paddle destinations.

Blueways are the aquatic equivalent of greenways: safe, mapped, maintained water trails designed for recreation, tourism, and stewardship. The Elm Fork already has the bones of a blueway. What it needs now is investment, coordination, and vision.

Under the leadership of Robbie Merritt, Superintendent of the Isle du Bois Unit at Lake Ray Roberts State Park, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department has committed to addressing debris impacts on the paddle trail north of the FM 428 launch. This initial effort represents an important first step toward restoring safe access and navigability within the Greenbelt corridor.
 

The Greenbelt Revitalization Task Force is committed to:

• Remove hazardous strainers and debris piles
   
• Restore emergency access corridors
   
• Reduce drowning and entrapment risks
   

• Conduct responsible debris management consistent with floodplain ecology
   
• Preserve heritage trees where possible while restoring navigability
   
• Reduce downstream debris accumulation
   

• Reopen impassable paddle sections
   
• Create a continuous, clearly defined water trail
   
• Improve user experience for paddlers of varying skill levels
   

• Position the Greenbelt as a regional outdoor destination
   
• Support local outfitters, guides, restaurants, and lodging
   
• Encourage responsible tourism across Denton County and neighboring municipalities

The Task Force is designed as a multi-agency, multi-stakeholder collaboration, including:

• U.S. Army Corps of Engineers – Landowner and flood control authority
   
• Texas Parks and Wildlife Department – Current operator and recreation manager
   
• Denton County – Public safety, emergency response, tourism, and infrastructure partner
   
• Surrounding municipalities – Economic and community beneficiaries
   
• Outfitters, paddling groups, and nonprofits – Stewardship, activation, and long-term maintenance partners
   

The intent is not to shift responsibility, but to align it—bringing the right tools, expertise, and resources to a shared public asset.

Well-maintained urban and semi-urban waterways are proven economic engines.

Lady Bird Lake demonstrates what intentional investment in a blueway can deliver:

• Estimated $10+ million annually in direct tourism and recreation economic impact
   
• Hundreds of thousands of visitors each year using the waterway
   
• Significant permit revenue collected by the City of Austin
   
  • A single commercial outfitter contributes approximately $180,000+ annually in permit and concession fees
     
• Multiplier effects benefiting hotels, restaurants, transportation, retail, and events
   

The Elm Fork Greenbelt has similar potential. Even achieving a fraction of Lady Bird Lake’s success would generate meaningful, recurring revenue for Denton County and surrounding communities—while enhancing quality of life for residents.

The Greenbelt Revitalization Task Force and its Blue Water Initiative invite Denton County, regional municipalities, and agency partners to take part in a forward-looking effort that balances safety, stewardship, recreation, and economic vitality.

This is not simply about clearing debris.

It is about unlocking the full potential of a public waterway designed to serve the people of North Texas.

Together, we can transform the Greenbelt into a destination worthy of its setting—and its future.

inquire at contact@adventurepaddles.org