X
GO

Water School

Why are there so many man-made lakes in Texas?

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.

Related

Share

Search
Categories

The information provided on this site is intended as background on water within the Brazos River basin. There should be no expectation that this information is all encompassing, complete or in any way examines every aspect of this very complex natural resource.

If you have questions about a post or would like additional information, please contact us or call 888-922-6272.

Tags
chlorine pollutants water rights limestone Board farming climate drought gate well drinking water legislation gage lawn meta tag lakes fishing flood control lake jobs hunting corps pharmaceuticals invasive plants quality recreation aerobic E coli hydrilla E. coli mission volume costs minerals calcium wetland kayak bed and banks water supply chlorides subsidence district hydrology sewage evaporation consumption allens creek reservoir solids water clarity water planning dam monitor watercourse drilling golden algae environment oxygen inland spillway septic system bay measure cfs water code wastewater storage dock wetlands subsidence depth use habitat aquifer fish kill inundated water plants turbidity contract ground water industry possum kingdom gulf organic hydrologic cycle USGS groundwater classification surface water marsh channel fertilizer xeriscape basin agriculture subwatershed landscaping beneficial use reservoir supply appropriation system authority PAM environmental sediment electric companies anaerobic canoe municipal flood pool medicine tributary water treatment permit watershed hydropower agricultural TCEQ golden algea runoff insurance sludge riverine soil camping streamflow electricity sanitation main stem infection brackish dissolved solids speaker contaminants direct re-use mgd algae mitigation employment boating impound flood indirect re-use releases water cycle lake stream riparian map emergency use estuary industrial fork bottled water acre-foot treatment gas effluent rain planning salt governance water water use precipitation maps parasite lake levels potable streamflow conservation granbury taste river salinity smell biosolids septic spring lake level acre-feet clarity reservoirs corps of engineers water quality canoeing wildlife rights mainstem filter