Type reservoir Primary outflows Angelina River Surface area 114,500 acres (463 km) Surface elevation 50 m Inflow source Angelina River | Primary inflows Basin countries United States Area 463.4 km² Catchment area 8,933 km² Outflow location Angelina River | |
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Water volume 3,997,600 acre·ft (4.9310 km) | ||
Sam Rayburn Reservoir is a reservoir in the United States in Deep East Texas, 70 mi (110 km) north of Beaumont. The reservoir is fed by the Angelina River, the major tributary of the Neches River. The reservoir's capacity is 3,997,600 acre feet (4.9310×109 m3), and is the largest lake wholly within the state of Texas. The reservoir is operated by the United States Army Corps of Engineers, Fort Worth district.
Contents
Map of Sam Rayburn Reservoir, Texas 75951, USA
HistoryEdit
Construction began September 7, 1956 and the reservoir began serving its purpose on March 29, 1965. The main purposes of the reservoir are flood control, hydroelectric power generation, and conservation of water. Construction costs, including those for recreation facilities, were estimated at about $66 million.
It was known as McGee Bend Dam and Reservoir until 1963. In September of that year, the 88th Congress adopted a special resolution changing the name to "Sam Rayburn Dam and Reservoir" in honor of the recently deceased Speaker of the House Sam Rayburn, a long-time champion of soil and water conservation. Dedication ceremonies were held on May 8, 1965.
In accordance with the 1945 federal Rivers and Harbors Act, four reservoirs were originally approved for the Neches and Angelina Rivers Basin. They were designated as Dam A, Dam B, Rockland, and McGee Bend. The first to be built was Dam B, completed on the Neches River in 1953. The name was changed to Town Bluff Dam and B. A. Steinhagen Reservoir, but locals still refer to it as Dam B. In 1955, Congress approved the funding for McGee Bend Dam and Reservoir, and construction began in 1957. Congress changed the name to Sam Rayburn Dam and Reservoir in 1963, and it was formally dedicated in 1965. The Dam A and Rockland dams, which were to be on the Neches River upstream from the convergence of the Neches and Angelina Rivers, were deemed to be unnecessary and listed as "deferred".
Lake Sam Rayburn can be crossed on Texas State Highway 147 and is a popular recreation destination, both for boating and fishing, with game fish species in the lake including largemouth bass, bluegill, and channel catfish. Due to the abundance of bass, it is home to more than 300 tournaments annually, which include tournaments such as ESPN/BASS Masters, BASS Champs, Wal Mart BFL, FLW Outdoors, The Cabela's Texas Team Trail, Angler's Quest, Bass-n-Bucks, and McDonald's Big Bass Splash.
Lake Sam Rayburn was known as a burial ground for serial killers Dean Corll, Elmer Wayne Henley and David Brooks. Corll, Brooks and Henley buried four of their 28 victims at the Lake. Henley later shot Corll to death, turned himself in to authorities and implicated Brooks, whereupon the two were sentenced to life in prison.