Lake Waco
Encyclopedia
Lake Waco is a reservoir
located within the city limits of Waco
, in McLennan County, Texas
, which serves as the western border for the city of Waco. The dam is located on the Bosque River
. The lake has 79000 acre.ft of water and is currently run by the Army Corps of Engineers. Lake Waco was raised about 8 feet (2 m) in 2005. This has helped with fishing.
The flood threat to the city of Waco and downstream portions of the Brazos - combined with the need for conservation storage to save millions of gallons of water that were wasted, led local citizens to seek a new reservoir. Through their efforts, Congress authorized the project for construction by the Corps of Engineers.
By law, local interests are required to bear the cost of acquisition of the storage allocated to conservation in the reservoir. A water conservation contract covering repayment of the cost of those features has been approved, and, under its terms, the Brazos River Authority will also contribute its share annually for operation and maintenance of the project.
Waco Lake is operated for its various purposes by the Corps of Engineers, with water being furnished to the Authority under the term by the Texas Water Commission
1925 - The Bosque River was considered as a primary water supply for Waco and surrounding areas.
1926 - City passes a $3.5 million bond to fund building the original Lake Waco.
1929 - Construction begins on Lake Waco Dam.
1930 - Construction of the first Lake Waco Dam secured 39000 acre.ft of water.
1950 - Due to drought conditions, The City of Waco begins planning for future water needs.
1956 - City officials lobby for the construction of a new dam.
1958 - Construction begins on the new dam.
1964 - Lake Waco Dam is completed and provides long-term, dependable water supply for the citizens of Waco and surrounding areas. The new dam secured 59000 acre.ft of water.
1979 - Waco officials research raising the level of the lake.
1983 - Study is completed and 7 feet is considered most feasible lake level.
1998 - Waco City Council votes to increase the Lake Waco Pool by seven feet giving the City of Waco and surrounding areas 79000 acre.ft of dependable water supply.
2003 - Impoundment of water begins. The 7 foot pool rise secured 79000 acre.ft of dependable water supply from Lake Waco with a normal lake elevation of 462.
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...
located within the city limits of Waco
Waco, Texas
Waco is a city in and the county seat of McLennan County, Texas. Situated along the Brazos River and on the I-35 corridor, halfway between Dallas and Austin, it is the economic, cultural, and academic center of the 'Heart of Texas' region....
, in McLennan County, Texas
McLennan County, Texas
McLennan County is a county located on the Edwards Plateau in Central Texas. In 2000, its population was 213,517; in 2008 the U.S. Census Bureau estimated its population to be 230,213. Its seat is Waco. The county is named for Neil McLennan, an early settler....
, which serves as the western border for the city of Waco. The dam is located on the Bosque River
Bosque River
The Bosque River is a long river in Central Texas fed by four primary branches. The longest branch, the North Bosque, forms near Stephenville, and flows toward Waco through Hamilton, Bosque and McLennan counties. It is subsequently joined by the East Bosque in Bosque County and the Middle and...
. The lake has 79000 acre.ft of water and is currently run by the Army Corps of Engineers. Lake Waco was raised about 8 feet (2 m) in 2005. This has helped with fishing.
The flood threat to the city of Waco and downstream portions of the Brazos - combined with the need for conservation storage to save millions of gallons of water that were wasted, led local citizens to seek a new reservoir. Through their efforts, Congress authorized the project for construction by the Corps of Engineers.
By law, local interests are required to bear the cost of acquisition of the storage allocated to conservation in the reservoir. A water conservation contract covering repayment of the cost of those features has been approved, and, under its terms, the Brazos River Authority will also contribute its share annually for operation and maintenance of the project.
Waco Lake is operated for its various purposes by the Corps of Engineers, with water being furnished to the Authority under the term by the Texas Water Commission
1925 - The Bosque River was considered as a primary water supply for Waco and surrounding areas.
1926 - City passes a $3.5 million bond to fund building the original Lake Waco.
1929 - Construction begins on Lake Waco Dam.
1930 - Construction of the first Lake Waco Dam secured 39000 acre.ft of water.
1950 - Due to drought conditions, The City of Waco begins planning for future water needs.
1956 - City officials lobby for the construction of a new dam.
1958 - Construction begins on the new dam.
1964 - Lake Waco Dam is completed and provides long-term, dependable water supply for the citizens of Waco and surrounding areas. The new dam secured 59000 acre.ft of water.
1979 - Waco officials research raising the level of the lake.
1983 - Study is completed and 7 feet is considered most feasible lake level.
1998 - Waco City Council votes to increase the Lake Waco Pool by seven feet giving the City of Waco and surrounding areas 79000 acre.ft of dependable water supply.
2003 - Impoundment of water begins. The 7 foot pool rise secured 79000 acre.ft of dependable water supply from Lake Waco with a normal lake elevation of 462.