Gibbons Creek Reservoir

Gibbons Creek Reservoir (sometimes referred to as Gibbons Creek Lake) is a power plant cooling reservoir on Gibbons Creek in the Navasota River basin, 20 miles (32 km) east of College Station, Texas, United States. The dam and lake are managed by Texas Municipal Power Agency (TMPA), which uses the reservoir as a cooling pond for a coal-fired power plant generating electricity for the cities of Bryan, Denton, Garland, and Greenville (all of whom have municipality-owned electric companies).

Gibbons Creek Reservoir
The power plant at Gibbons Creek Reservoir
Gibbons Creek Reservoir
Gibbons Creek Reservoir
LocationGrimes County, Texas
Coordinates30°37.45′N 96°3.85′W
TypePower plant cooling reservoir
Primary inflowsGibbons Creek
Primary outflowsGibbons Creek
Basin countriesUnited States
Surface area2,770 acres (1,120 ha)
Max. depth34 ft (10 m)
Surface elevation247 ft (75 m)

The reservoir was officially impounded in 1981.

Gibbons Creek Reservoir is a popular recreational destination due to its location near the Bryan-College Station metropolitan area. The nearby power plant was mothballed indefinitely by TMPA in January 2019 due to the high cost of coal-powered electricity when compared to cheaper natural gas.[1] TMPA had been trying to sell the plant since 2016.[2]

Fish populations

Gibbons Creek Reservoir has been stocked with species of fish intended to improve the utility of the reservoir for recreational fishing. Fish present in Gibbons Creek Reservoir include largemouth bass, bluegill, catfish, Tilapia, white crappie, and black crappie. The water has standing timber and aquatic vegetation but generally is rather turbid. Its shoreline is covered with native grasses mixed with oak, elm, and other East Texas hardwoods.

Recreational uses

Boating and fishing are very popular. The steam power plant on the southwest shore of the lake constantly pumps in warm water that keeps this lake a viable fishing spot year-round, even when other lakes in the area become too cold in the winter months.

Recreational fishing and other activities on this lake are regulated by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.

References
  1. "UPDATE: Gibbons Creek Coal Plant Gets Approval to Shut Down Indefinitely, Electric Generators Get More Money". Sierra Club. 2019-01-17. Retrieved 2019-03-29.
  2. "Another Texas power plant is mothballed, raising concerns over reserves and prices - HoustonChronicle.com". www.houstonchronicle.com. 2019-01-07. Retrieved 2019-03-29.
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