The Bureau of Land Management’s New Mexico State Office has officially taken the auction of gas drilling rights for a 259 acre parcel beneath the Hickory Creek arm of Lewisville Lake off the table.
The parcel of Corps of Engineer’s land at Lake Lewisville has been deferred as portions of the parcel have recently been identified as being located with city limits, BLM officials said Friday.
Lake Lewisville is the source of drinking water for a majority of southern Denton County residents and many area towns and cities, along with several environmental groups, had mobilized to try to stop the sale.
The BLM had originally identified 43 parcels in Oklahoma, Kansas, and Texas to be offered at the April 20, 2016 lease sale. The BLM New Mexico State Director has deferred 24 parcels from the originally planned sale.
A copy of the amended April competitive oil and gas lease sale notice is available here.