Section 4: Boat Ramp Maintenance

Authority for Maintaining Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Boat Ramps

The Department maintains TPWD operated boat ramp facilities on highway right-of-way, in accordance with the Boat Ramp Memorandum of Agreement (Minute Order No. 103818). The summary of required details in the agreement follows.

TxDOT Responsibilities

According to the Memorandum of Agreement, TxDOT is responsible for:
  • Providing vegetation management, mowing, and trimming
  • Providing litter pick-up and disposal
  • Providing appropriate directional and regulatory signs
  • Maintaining paved surfaces
  • Maintaining unpaved surfaces by blading as necessary
  • Performing periodic inspections of facilities
  • Submitting to TPWD annual report of the list of ramps that require major rehabilitation

TPWD Responsibilities

According to the Memorandum of Agreement, TPWD is responsible for:
  • Providing for major rehabilitation of boat ramp parking lots and access roads
  • Performing periodic inspection of the facilities
  • Providing safe boating signs as needed
  • Retaining operational control of the facilities
  • Dredging of the facilities
  • New construction

Public Boat Ramp Signs

PUBLIC BOAT RAMP sign (D7-5), should be used to designate boat ramps. The signs may be erected in advance of the access road that leads from a marked highway route to a public boat ramp. Only toll free ramps, which are maintained by a public authority, may be signed.