Water School

Natural lakes have been a rare commodity in Texas. In fact, the state had only one natural lake, Caddo Lake in East Texas, that was formed by a log jam.  A permanent dam was installed at the lake in the early 20th century.

A large number of the state’s remaining lakes were made in response to the occasional propensity of Texas’ usually tranquil rivers to flood during heavy rains.

Texas’ early history is filled with accounts of devastating floods causing loss of human life and destroying livestock and property, particularly along the Brazos. As a result, in the 1930s and 40s, officials began building dams along Texas rivers to create flood control reservoirs that would absorb the floodwaters and alleviate damage and loss of life.

Momentum for such flood control projects picked up during the 1950s and the US Army Corps of Engineers was tasked with building several more reservoirs for flood control over the next several decades. Ironically, the worst drought of record for Texas took place during the 1950s, prompting emphasis on a second priority for these reservoirs: water supply.