Lake Conroe
Encyclopedia
Lake Conroe is a 21,000 acre
(85 km²) lake in Montgomery County
, Texas
, United States
. Even though it is named Lake Conroe, only a small portion of the lake is in Conroe, Texas
. Most of the lake is in Montgomery, Texas
and Willis, Texas
. The lake lies on the West Fork of the San Jacinto River just west of Interstate 45
off of State Highway 105
in Montgomery
and Walker counties
. The lake runs through classic East Texas
Piney Woods forests. Water quality generally is good, fairly clear, with an average depth of 20.5 feet (6.2 m), and a maximum depth of 75 feet (22.9 m). The controlling authority of the lake is the San Jacinto River Authority. The City of Houston owns a two-thirds interest in the lake; the SJRA owns one-third. The lake extends about 21 miles (33.8 km) in length and covers 20118 acres (81.4 km²) with 5000 acres (20.2 km²) in Sam Houston National Forest and capacity of 430260 acre.ft. Lake Conroe is a reservoir
built as an alternate water supply for the city of Houston by the City of Houston, the San Jacinto River Authority and the Texas Water Development Board in January 1970, the lake was completed January 1973 and it was filled on October 31, 1973.
Lake Conroe is one of the wealthiest areas in Texas. Residents near the lake have the highest income, education level and house values in Montgomery County
. A few celebrities such as Rudy Tomjanovich
, Roger Clemens
, Aaron Gray
, Bill Ford, Colin Edwards II and among others have residencies in the Lake Conroe area.
Acre
The acre is a unit of area in a number of different systems, including the imperial and U.S. customary systems. The most commonly used acres today are the international acre and, in the United States, the survey acre. The most common use of the acre is to measure tracts of land.The acre is related...
(85 km²) lake in Montgomery County
Montgomery County, Texas
Montgomery County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas within the Houston–Sugar Land–Baytown metropolitan area. The county was created by an act of the Congress of the Republic of Texas on December 14, 1837. The county was named for the town of Montgomery, Texas. In 2000, its...
, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Even though it is named Lake Conroe, only a small portion of the lake is in Conroe, Texas
Conroe, Texas
Conroe is a suburban city 40 miles north of Houston in the gulf coastal plains/piney woods region of southeast Texas.It is the seat of Montgomery County and falls within the metropolitan area.As of the 2000 U.S...
. Most of the lake is in Montgomery, Texas
Montgomery, Texas
Montgomery is a city located in Montgomery County, Texas. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 489. It is the birthplace of the Lone Star Flag of Texas.-History:...
and Willis, Texas
Willis, Texas
Willis is a city in Montgomery County, Texas, United States, located on the Missouri Pacific Railroad eight miles north of Conroe in north central Montgomery County.-Geography:Willis is located at ....
. The lake lies on the West Fork of the San Jacinto River just west of Interstate 45
Interstate 45
Interstate 45 is an intrastate Interstate Highway located entirely within the U.S. state of Texas. It connects the cities of Dallas and Houston, continuing southeast from Houston to Galveston over the Galveston Causeway to the Gulf of Mexico...
off of State Highway 105
State Highway 105 (Texas)
State Highway 105, or SH 105, is a state highway in the U.S. state of Texas that runs from Brenham to the outskirts of Beaumont. The route was originally proposed in 1933 and took its current routing in 1984.-Route description:...
in Montgomery
Montgomery County, Texas
Montgomery County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas within the Houston–Sugar Land–Baytown metropolitan area. The county was created by an act of the Congress of the Republic of Texas on December 14, 1837. The county was named for the town of Montgomery, Texas. In 2000, its...
and Walker counties
Walker County, Texas
Walker County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. In 2010, its population was 67,861. Its county seat is Huntsville.Initially, Walker County was named for Robert J. Walker, a legislator from Mississippi who introduced into the United States Congress the resolution to annex Texas...
. The lake runs through classic East Texas
East Texas
East Texas is a distinct geographic and ecological area in the U.S. state of Texas.According to the Handbook of Texas, the East Texas area "may be separated from the rest of Texas roughly by a line extending from the Red River in north central Lamar County southwestward to east central Limestone...
Piney Woods forests. Water quality generally is good, fairly clear, with an average depth of 20.5 feet (6.2 m), and a maximum depth of 75 feet (22.9 m). The controlling authority of the lake is the San Jacinto River Authority. The City of Houston owns a two-thirds interest in the lake; the SJRA owns one-third. The lake extends about 21 miles (33.8 km) in length and covers 20118 acres (81.4 km²) with 5000 acres (20.2 km²) in Sam Houston National Forest and capacity of 430260 acre.ft. Lake Conroe is a reservoir
Reservoir
A reservoir , artificial lake or dam is used to store water.Reservoirs may be created in river valleys by the construction of a dam or may be built by excavation in the ground or by conventional construction techniques such as brickwork or cast concrete.The term reservoir may also be used to...
built as an alternate water supply for the city of Houston by the City of Houston, the San Jacinto River Authority and the Texas Water Development Board in January 1970, the lake was completed January 1973 and it was filled on October 31, 1973.
Lake Conroe is one of the wealthiest areas in Texas. Residents near the lake have the highest income, education level and house values in Montgomery County
Montgomery County, Texas
Montgomery County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas within the Houston–Sugar Land–Baytown metropolitan area. The county was created by an act of the Congress of the Republic of Texas on December 14, 1837. The county was named for the town of Montgomery, Texas. In 2000, its...
. A few celebrities such as Rudy Tomjanovich
Rudy Tomjanovich
Rudolph Tomjanovich, Jr. , nicknamed Rudy T., is an American retired basketball player and coach who coached the Houston Rockets to two consecutive NBA championships. He is currently a scout for the Los Angeles Lakers.-Early life:...
, Roger Clemens
Roger Clemens
William Roger Clemens , nicknamed "Rocket", is a former Major League Baseball pitcher who broke into the league with the Boston Red Sox, whose pitching staff he would help anchor for 12 years. Clemens won seven Cy Young Awards, more than any other pitcher. He played for four different teams over...
, Aaron Gray
Aaron Gray
Aaron Michael Gray is an American professional basketball player who last played for the New Orleans Hornets of the NBA.-High school career:...
, Bill Ford, Colin Edwards II and among others have residencies in the Lake Conroe area.