Balmorhea Lake

Balmorhea Lake
Balmorhea Lake
Balmorhea Lake
LocationReeves County, Texas
Coordinates30°57.77′N 103°43.25′W
TypeIrrigation reservoir
Primary inflowsSandia Creek, Toyah Creek
Primary outflowsSandia Creek
Basin countriesUnited States
Surface area556 acres (225 ha)
Max. depth25 ft (7.6 m)
Water volume6,350 acre⋅ft (0.00783 km3)
Surface elevation3,187 ft (971 m)

Background

Balmorhea Lake is a reservoir on Sandia Creek 2 miles (3 km) southeast of downtown Balmorhea, Texas. Water from Toyah Creek, fed by the nearby San Solomon Springs, is also fed into the reservoir, as is excess water in the Phantom Lake Canal. Historians believe that this area of lake has been around for more than 11,000 years.[1] This means that this lake has provided resources for Native tribes and animals that may be extinct today. The reservoir was built in 1917 by the construction of a dam by the Reeves County Water Improvement District. The reservoir provides water for irrigation, and is a popular recreational spot for locals. Balmorhea Lake is also known as Lower Parks Reservoir.

Flora

The Balmorhea Lake is home to many species of Bulrush[2][3] and Sago Pondweed.[4] The Bulrush, Scirpus acutus, is a marshland plant that is typically grown around bodies of water like: lakes, ponds and even reservoirs. These plants grow their stems horizontally while sprouting roots underneath their stems, this is known as rhizomatous activity. Because these plants are rhizomatous, they produce a substance in the ground that allows bacteria to keep waste from damaging the shoreline and vegetation near it.[2] These plants are usually found in areas of shallow waters as they do not live very long in waters that are considerably deep. They may typically grow more than 2.5 m long. They are green in color, but are sometimes seen as having a grey tint. The Bulrush plants are utilized often for conservation efforts for many different lakes and reservoirs because of their ability to preserve shorelines that would otherwise be worn down by waves.

The Sago Pondweed, Stuckenia pectinata, is very common across North America. These plants are typically consumed by ducks, geese and other birds that reside on lakes, reservoirs and other similar bodies of water. Like the Bulrush mentioned above, the Sago Pondweed does offer environmental assistance by preventing erosion on the shorelines caused by waves and having the ability to regulate the amount of pollution in these bodies of water. These plant may grow to be more than 2.5 ft tall and are very grass-like, having a brownish-green tint to them.

Fishing

Balmorhea Lake has been stocked with species of fish intended to improve the utility of the reservoir for recreational fishing. Fish that are present in Balmorhea Lake include largemouth bass, sunfish, European carp, mirror carp, channel catfish, blue catfish, black bullhead, crappie and gizzard shad.

Although recreational fishing is allowed, there are statewide regulations[5] that this lake has to follow.

Recreational uses

Balmorhea Lake is used for swimming, fishing, bird-watching, diving and boating.


References
  1. "Balmorhea State Park History — Texas Parks & Wildlife Department". tpwd.texas.gov. Retrieved 2020-12-02.
  2. "Bulrush | plant". Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved 2020-12-03.
  3. "Wetland Plant Fact Sheet: Hardstem Bulrush (Scirpus acutus)" (PDF).
  4. "Fishing Lake Balmorhea". tpwd.texas.gov. Retrieved 2020-12-03.
  5. "Freshwater Bag and Length Limits — Texas Parks & Wildlife Department". tpwd.texas.gov. Retrieved 2020-12-03.
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