Invasive Species Rule

Drain Your Boat When You Leave Lake Fork

Texas law requires boaters to drain all water from their vessel before leaving Lake Fork to help stop zebra mussels from spreading to other lakes.

Wood County The Great Outdoors

Zebra mussels are an invasive species that have reached several Texas lakes. They attach to boat hulls, bilges, livewells, and motors. If a boat carries lake water to a new water body, mussels can spread quickly. Texas law requires you to drain all water — including from livewells, bilges, and bait buckets — before leaving public freshwater.

This rule applies at Lake Fork and at all public boat ramps in Texas. Inspections can occur at boat ramps. Violating the rule is a legal offense. When in doubt, drain everything, inspect the hull, and let the boat dry before moving it.

Source to confirm: TPWD — Lake Fork Fishing Regulations (Zebra Mussel Note)

More Wood County notes

Property Tax Basics

Who Handles Property Taxes in Wood County

Two separate offices handle your property taxes — the appraisal district sets the value, and the tax assessor-collector sends the bill.

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Homestead Exemption

How to Lower Your Tax Bill with a Homestead Exemption

If your home in Wood County is your main residence, you likely qualify for a homestead exemption that reduces what you owe in property taxes.

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Ag Valuation

How Agricultural Land Gets a Lower Tax Value

Land used for farming, ranching, or timber in Wood County can be valued at its agricultural use — not its market price — which sharply reduces property taxes.

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Fishing Regulations

Fishing at Lake Fork: Special Rules You Need to Know

Lake Fork Reservoir in Wood County has strict catch rules for largemouth bass — most fish must be released, and only one trophy-size fish per day may be kept.

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