Lake Tawakoni
{{short description|Lake in Texas, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2025}}
{{Infobox body of water
| name = Lake Tawakoni
| image = Sunset lake tawakoni duck cove 2014-07-30.jpeg
| caption = Sunset over Duck Cove
| image_bathymetry =
| caption_bathymetry =
| location = Hunt / Rains / Van Zandt Counties, Texas
| coords = {{coord|32|50|45|N|95|56|36|W|type:waterbody_region:US-TX|display=inline,title}}
| type = reservoir
| inflow =
| outflow =
| catchment =
| basin_countries = United States
| length =
| width =
| area = {{convert|37879|acre|0|abbr=on}}
| agency = Sabine River Authority of Texas
| date-flooded = {{Start date|1960|10}}
| depth =
| max-depth =
| volume = {{convert|926,000|acre.ft|abbr=on}}
| residence_time =
| shore = {{convert|200|mi|abbr=on}}
| elevation = {{convert|437.5|ft|abbr=on}}
| islands =
| cities =
| frozen =
| pushpin_map = Texas#USA
| pushpin_label_position =
| pushpin_map_alt = Location of Lake Tawakoni in Texas, USA
| pushpin_map_caption =
| website =
| reference = {{cite gnis |id= 1376396|name=Lake Tawakoni |entrydate = 30 November 1979 |accessdate= 27 July 2018}}
}}
Lake Tawakoni ({{IPAc-en|t|ə|ˈ|w|ɑː|k|ə|n|i}} {{respell|tə|WAH|kə|nee}}) is a {{convert|37879|acre|adj=on}} reservoir located in Northeast Texas, about {{convert|48|mi}} east of Dallas. It lies within three Texas counties, Hunt, Rains, and Van Zandt. It is used for water supply and recreation. It is under the Sabine River Authority of Texas and the original headwaters of the Sabine are converged under the lake surface.
Etymology
The lake was named for the Tawakoni Native American peoples, who were a larger part of the Caddo Nation. The Caddos inhabited a large swath of North and East Texas, including where the lake is located.
History
The reservoir was constructed in 1960 with the Iron Bridge Dam. The area was chosen due to its location to the growing Dallas area and the growth east of the city and its respective suburbs. The South Fork, Cowleech Fork, and Caddo Forks that all formed the Sabine River headwaters are now submerged under the lake and the lake now serves as the headwaters of the Sabine. It covers {{convert|37879|acre}} and has a storage capacity of {{convert|926,000|acre.ft|m3}} at conservation pool level.{{cite web |url=http://www.sratx.org/projects/ibp.asp |title=Iron Bridge Project |accessdate=June 2, 2015}} It is owned by the Sabine River Authority of Texas.
Flora and fauna
The lake has a diverse array of wildlife. It features deer, feral hogs, snakes, raccoons, bobcats, and over 200 species of birds. Sightings of the American alligator in certain areas of the lake have not been uncommon. The lake mainly has post oak hardwood timber and plants native to the Texas Blackland Prairies.
In the summer of 2007, Lake Tawakoni State Park was the site of a large, rare spider web. The web stretched over a 200-yard path and attracted considerable attention from entomologists.{{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/*/http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/08/30/spider.web.ap/index.html?eref=rss_us |date=* |title=Monster spider web spun in Texas}} The smaller Greenville Club Lake is situated north of the lake.{{Cite web |title=Geographic Names Information System |url=https://edits.nationalmap.gov/apps/gaz-domestic/public/search/names/1336984 |access-date=2024-04-25 |website=edits.nationalmap.gov}}
Gallery
File:Lake Tawakoni September 2015 1.jpg|As viewed from West Tawakoni City Park in West Tawakoni, Texas
File:Lake Tawakoni September 2015 2.jpg|As viewed from East Tawakoni, Texas
File:Lake Tawakoni Iron Bridge Dam in East Texas.jpg|Lake Tawakoni Iron Bridge Dam in East Texas
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/spdest/findadest/parks/lake_tawakoni Texas Parks and Wildlife page]
- [http://texasento.net/Social_Spider.htm Giant Spider Web in an East Texas State Park]
{{Texaslakes}}
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Tawakoni, Lake}}
Category:1960 establishments in Texas
Category:Bodies of water of Hunt County, Texas
Category:Bodies of water of Rains County, Texas
Category:Bodies of water of Van Zandt County, Texas
Category:Dams completed in 1960
Category:Protected areas of Hunt County, Texas
Category:Protected areas of Rains County, Texas
Category:Protected areas of Van Zandt County, Texas