COLLIN COUNTY - A Collin County lake suddenly dropped several feet.

But this time, it had nothing to do with the North Texas drought.

A developer building a new neighborhood near Princeton pumped water out of the lake to drain it.

But they may not have had proper permission to do it.

No one disturbed the lake since it was built for flood control by the federal government 50 years ago but when construction recently began on water stone estates, the lake started dropping.

"The water level was about right here," said Judy Buckner, Collin County home owner.

"If we don't get the seasonal rains, which we should have, but haven't got the last two years, we're going to have the same situation. This thing is going to dry up and the fish will be gone," said Doyce Chapman, another homeowner in the area.

lgi Development of Conroe received permission from the Collin County Soil and Water conservation district and the USDA to lower the lake, so it could expand the lake but the company never obtained a water rights permit from the state.

"What am I going to do for the next few years if we don't get the rain? What about the wildlife and the bobcats that come down? All the birds and the hawks and everything?" said Buckner.

The impact extends beyond the lake. When crews began pumping water out, Stiff Creek dropped about five feet.

The creek runs along Fran Woodfin's property.

"We've been worried about the beaver that live there. I'm not sure what happened to them and the birds that come and nest. We feel it's been devastating for them."

lgi Development told News 8, the company will do anything it needs to comply with state regulations.

The firm was ordered to stop draining the lake and could still face fines.