Lake Appreciation Month: Celebrating Our Regional Water Source

Created on July 17, 2024 at 09:00 AM

Lake Waco in 1954. Baylor University Texas Collection.

Celebrating Lake Appreciation Month in July offers a fitting opportunity to reflect on the vital role that Lake Waco plays in our community. This month-long observance allows us to recognize the decades of effort, planning, and collaboration that have gone into securing a reliable water supply for Waco and its surrounding areas.

The Birth of Lake Waco

Lake Waco Dam in 1946. Baylor University Texas Collection.

Discussions about damming the Bosque River to provide a dependable water source for Waco date back to at least November 1921. The proposal to construct a dam brought forth two potential sites: the "Upper Bosque Site," situated about nine miles upstream from the current dam, and the "Lower Bosque" or "Cameron Site," near present-day North 19th Street on the W.W. Cameron farm. The Lower Bosque site was ultimately selected due to lower construction costs.

To fund the dam's construction, a $3.5 million bond proposal was presented to voters. This proposal sparked significant debate, not over the necessity of a reliable water supply but over the best approach to achieve it. On September 14, 1926, Waco voters narrowly approved the bonds by a margin of 178 votes, highlighting the community's divided opinion.

The proposed dam was to span approximately 1.25 miles with a base thickness of 430 feet, a maximum height of 68 feet at the river's center, and a 25-foot-wide top to accommodate a highway. The spillway was designed with 15 steel gates, each 15 feet wide and 25 feet high.

Legal challenges and injunctions delayed construction for a year and a half. In April 1928, influential citizens met with the water board to discuss cost-cutting measures for the dam, which led to additional engineering studies, discussions, and ultimately reducing the projected cost from $3.5 million to $2 million.

In August 1928, progress resumed, and the name "Lake Waco" was officially adopted, replacing the initial "Lake Bosque" name. The following month, the water board selected Walker’s Crossing as the dam site, and construction began in December. The dam was dedicated in April 1930, serving the Waco area for the next 35 years.

The Need for a Bigger Dam

Lake Waco Dam Construction in 1963. Baylor University Texas Collection.

In June 1945, the Waco Chamber of Commerce presented a case to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for a new dam, emphasizing the need for improved flood control and addressing siltation issues that were reducing the lake's water storage capacity. By 1947, a survey revealed a significant loss of storage capacity due to siltation, prompting discussions about a new, larger dam. Following years of planning, a ceremonial groundbreaking on the larger dam took place on July 5, 1958, led by then-Senator Lyndon Johnson.

The new dam faced several challenges, including a major delay in October 1961 when the dam moved during construction. Nevertheless, on February 26, 1965, the "deliberate impoundment" of water began with the official dedication on September 4, 1965. The lake's level was increased from 430 to 455 feet.

Raising the Stakes

As Waco continued to grow, the need for an even larger water supply led the City of Waco to request the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in December 1977 to consider raising Lake Waco by five feet. In May 1983, the Corps approved raising the lake level by seven feet. By December 19, 2000, nearly 20 years later, the Waco City Council had approved the $30 million project, which was slated for completion by October 1, 2003.

Lake Waco Dam in 1964. Baylor University Texas Collection.

In late August 2003, the Corps of Engineers gave the final authorization to raise the lake level.  26 years after discussions originally started, a ceremonial closing of dam gate 13 on September 29, 2003, marked the official start of the raising of the lake level.  What was expected to be a slow process proceeded unexpectedly quickly.  By mid-October 2003, thanks to significant rainfall in Waco and on the South and Middle Bosque rivers, the level of the lake was only a few inches below the new normal level of 462 feet only a couple of weeks after the official raising began.

A Legacy of Sustainability

The creation and expansion of Lake Waco highlights the extensive planning and effort required to establish a reliable water supply. The City of Waco and surrounding communities now benefit from a first-class water resource, ensuring a stable and reliable supply for generations to come. The lake level has remained at 462 feet, and the City of Waco is committed to protecting our regional water source because, in Texas, droughts could always be around the corner. Vigilance in water management is crucial to sustaining Lake Waco.