MALAKOFF -- The drought left many lake homeowners unable to enjoy their watercraft this summer, but Long Cove residents suffered none of that inconvenience. Floating docks, as opposed to fixed boat houses, made the difference at the new private luxury residential community during the ongoing drought that has lowered the lake more than six feet.. The development's valet service delivered residents' boats from storage to them at their floating docks, ready to go. After witnessing the brutal 2011 drought that left Cedar Creek Lake nine feet low, Long Cove developers planned to make sure residents would always be able to access their watercraft. Engineers surveyed the lake bottom to analyze water depths so the floating docks could be extended far enough in the lake to accommodate for the historic low water mark set two years ago. "While we are all praying for rain to fill the lake, it is exciting to see our docks and valet program working so well even in the worst of conditions," Long Cove President Christopher Kelsey said. "All of the research and design that went into the installation of the floating docks has been put to the test this summer, and it's great to see the extra money and effort paying off." Kelsey said the attention to detail on the floating docks is representative of the overall design of the community. The goal is to give residents the "most relaxed and enjoyable experience possible," he said. Long Cove Sales Director Josh Ellis said lake homeowners quip that the "best part about having a lake house is the boat, and the worst part is the boat." "The idea of our boat valet program is to take the worst part of that experience out of the equation," Ellis said. "You just give the valet a call, and your boat is delivered to your dock with a charged battery, a full tank of fuel and no cobwebs to clean up." The floating docks also don't obstruct views to or from the lake, Long Cove Architect John Boyd said. "We wanted to keep our shoreline as open as possible to open up views and reduce some of the clutter," Boyd said. "Our customers are telling us how happy they are with the result, and many of our custom homesite owners who have the option to build traditional boat houses are electing to use floating docks for this reason." Long Cove -- which is situated on six and one-half miles of pristine shoreline in Cedar Creek Lake's deep waters and spans 1,200 acres -- is on the southernmost finger of the lake where the water is calmer than in other areas. That enabled the developer to use an engineered fabric under irrigated sod to control erosion, eliminating the need for retaining walls. The result is a more beach-like environment that is better for swimming and more attractive, especially during low water levels. Long Cove was developed on pristine property that was untouched for 80 years. The development offers special homesites for waterside cottages, lakefront homes and family compounds, which can all be built-to-suit. Amenities include boat valet and concierge, lakefront swim cvlub, fishing and canoeing pond, hiking and biking trails, outdoor gathering spaces and fire pits, tennis courts, fitness center, amphitheater and more. For information visit Long-Cove.com or Facebook at facebook.com/LongCoveTexas.