Water School

DeCordova Bend Dam and Lake Granbury were constructed by the Brazos River Authority and are maintained and operated by the BRA as a source of water supply.

Construction of the project began in December 1966 and was completed in September 1969. The reservoir provides 129,011 acre-feet of storage capacity for conservation of flood and storm waters to meet requirements of municipalities, industries, agriculture and mining.  The reservoir has a permitted yield of 64,712 acre feet.  To view the state permit establishing Lake Granbury, click here. The DeCordova Bend Dam contains 16 computer-operated gates to pass flood water releases.

The reservoir has a surface area of 7,945 acres with 121 miles of shoreline.  Five public access areas for picnicking and fishing and four BRA-maintained boat ramps are available for recreational use.

Lake Granbury was built without use of tax dollars, financed entirely with revenues from sales of water contracts. The principal revenues used to finance the project were provided under a contract with TXU Electric Company for purchase of water for industrial use, including cooling water for a natural gas-fired steam electric power plant and the Comanche Peak Nuclear Power Plant near Glen Rose. The reservoir also furnishes raw water for municipal use in Hood and Johnson counties.