Kirby Lake

Last updated
Kirby Lake
Relief map of Texas.png
Red pog.svg
Kirby Lake
Usa edcp relief location map.png
Red pog.svg
Kirby Lake
LocationAbilene, Texas
Coordinates 32°22′35.34″N99°44′4.46″W / 32.3764833°N 99.7345722°W / 32.3764833; -99.7345722
Type reservoir
Built1928
Surface area740 acres (300 ha)
Max. depth16 ft (4.9 m)

Kirby Lake is a 740-acre man-made reservoir located on the south side of Abilene, Texas, just east of Highway 83, in the northeastern portion of Taylor County. [1] Kirby Lake is within the Brazos River Basin, meaning that Cedar Creek, which feeds Kirby Lake, eventually feeds into the Brazos River. [2] Kirby Lake resides in the Red Prairies portion of the Central Great Plains ecoregion. [3] Management is under the City of Abilene. [4]

Contents

Hydrology

Kirby Lake has around 740 acres (300 hectares) of surface area, a 7,620 acre-feet of capacity, and the maximum measured depth was 16 feet (4.9 meters). [2] [5] The watershed which feeds Kirby Lake is around 44 square miles (110 square kilometers), and Cedar Creek is the impounded river which the dam is named after. [2] The water level fluctuates in relation to water demand of the many uses of the reservoir. [5] The turbidity is less than 1-foot (300 centimeters) with a red coloring. [5] Since the dam's creation, Kirby Lake has only dried out once in 2000. [6] In an effort to restore the lake, treated wastewater was used as an addition inflow, and by 2002 Kirby Lake was once again full. [6] The surrounding area is mainly prairies with loamy soil. The lake is part of the Colorado River Basin (Texas), Brazos forks. [7]

History

In 1927 the Cedar Creek dam first started construction but was finished by 1928. [2] The City of Abilene owns Kirby Lake and uses it to supply water, irrigate crops, and provide recreation to its citizens. [2]

Recreation

Fishing

Kirby Lake is a popular lake for fishing, in particular blue or other catfishes, as well as bluegill. Like most lakes in the region, largemouth bass, carp, white crappie, and other fish also live in the waters. [4] Lake specific regulations based on minimum lengths and daily bag limits must be followed for catfish, but other fish like white crappie, saugeye, largemouth bass, and sunfishes are allowed to be caught if state regulations are being followed. [6]

The Status of Fish Species in Kirby Lake [5]
SpeciesPoorFairGoodExcellent
Largemouth BassX
CatfishX
CappieX
SunfishX

Boating

Most people fish directly from the banks rather than using a boat, however there are two boat ramps and a handicap accessible fishing pier connected to the city park located on the east side of Kirby Lake. [8] [9]

Wildlife

Management

Texas Parks and Wildlife Department monitored the fish populations of Kirby Lake to determine the best management plans. [6] According to the most current surveys, the most pervasive predator is the bluegill which competes with the gizzard shad, but most fish populations varied more according to angling fishing interests. [6] The lake has been stocked with fish numerous times in its history, but the most current time was when 40,000 Florida largemouth bass were released in 2014. [10] The current management strategies include monitoring fish populations using a variety of capture and release methods, upgrading the park aesthetically with the assistance of the City of Abilene, invasive species education, and improved ability for more surveys to be done about the ecosystem. [6]

Fauna

The lake is known for a number of bird species, including pectoral sandpiper, cactus wren, Baird's sandpiper, and the more rare long-tailed jaeger, red knot, and red phalarope. Desert cardinals, scarlet tanagers, and various waterfowl can also be seen in their spring and fall migrations. [11]

The entire region is known for its diversity in butterflies, and the greatest variety can be found at Kirby Lake: Pipevine swallowtail, sleepy orange, Reakirt's blue, Horace's duskywing, tawny emperor, common buckeye, sachem, and others. [12]

The most populous fish are: [5] [6]

Flora

The most populous hydrophilic vegetation are: [5] [6]

Related Research Articles

Lake Kickapoo is a reservoir located on the North Fork Little Wichita River in the Red River Basin of Archer County, Texas. It is neighbored by Archer City, Texas and Wichita Falls, Texas which reside within the Central Great Plains ecoregion.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lake Marble Falls</span> Hydroelectric reservoir near Marble Falls, Texas

Lake Marble Falls is a reservoir on the Colorado River in the Texas Hill Country in the United States. The reservoir was formed in 1951 by the construction of Max Starcke Dam by the Lower Colorado River Authority. Originally named Marble Falls Dam, the dam was renamed in 1962 for Max Starcke, the second general director of the LCRA. Located near the city of Marble Falls, the lake is used as a venue for aquatic recreation and for the purpose of generating hydroelectric power. It is the newest and smallest of the Texas Highland Lakes.

Lake Houston is a reservoir on the San Jacinto River, 15 miles (24 km) northeast of downtown Houston, Texas, United States. The reservoir is the primary municipal water supply for the city of Houston.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Somerville Lake</span> Lake of the United States of America

Somerville Lake is a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reservoir on Yegua Creek in the Brazos River basin, 10 miles (16 km) northwest of Brenham, Texas, United States. The town of Somerville in Burleson County is adjacent to the reservoir. The lake extends into portions of Burleson County, Washington County, and Lee County. The dam lies in Washington County. The dam and lake are managed by the Fort Worth District of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The reservoir was officially impounded in 1967, and serves to provide flood control and water for irrigation for the communities downstream. Somerville Lake is a popular recreational destination.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lake Fork Reservoir</span> Reservoir

Lake Fork Reservoir is a reservoir located in Wood, Rains, and Hopkins counties in the state of Texas, between the towns of Quitman, Alba, Emory, and Yantis, Texas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lake Whitney (Texas)</span> Reservoir in Texas, United States

Lake Whitney is a flood control reservoir on the main stem of the Brazos River in Texas. It is located on River Mile Marker 442 and controls drainage for 17,656 square miles (45,730 km2) of Texas and parts of New Mexico. The reservoir encompasses a surface area of more than 23,500 acres and 225 miles (362 km) of shoreline. The area consists of rolling, tallgrass prairies; cedar trees; hardwood timber; and 100 ft (30 m) bluffs and rock points. Lake Whitney is also part of the Texas Lakes Trail Region of North Texas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Inks Lake State Park</span> State park in Texas, United States

Inks Lake State Park is a state park located in Burnet County, Texas, United States, next to Inks Lake on the Colorado River. The landscape of the park is hilly, with many cedar, live oak, prickly pear cacti, and yuccas. The ground is rocky, mainly consisting of gneiss rock.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Choke Canyon Reservoir</span> Water supply reservoir in Texas, United States

Choke Canyon Reservoir is a reservoir in South Texas, United States. The lake and the dam that creates it are owned by the United States Bureau of Reclamation and managed by the City of Corpus Christi.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brady Creek Reservoir</span> Reservoir in McCulloch County, Texas

Brady Creek Reservoir is a reservoir on Brady Creek in McCulloch County, Texas in the United States. The lake is about 3 miles west of downtown Brady, Texas. The dam and lake are managed by the City of Brady. The reservoir was officially impounded in 1963. The reservoir is also sometimes called Brady Reservoir or Brady Lake. The dam for Brady Creek Reservoir is 8,400 ft. long and 104 ft. high and has a storage capacity of 30,430 acre-Ft.

Lake Gonzales is a reservoir on the Guadalupe River 4 miles (6 km) southeast of the town of Belmont in Gonzales County, Texas. The reservoir was formed in 1931 by the construction of a dam to provide hydroelectric power to the area. Management of the dam and lake was assumed by the Guadalupe-Blanco River Authority on May 1, 1963.

Lake Findley, also known as Lake Alice, is a reservoir on Chiltipin Creek about 1 mile north of the city of Alice, Texas. The reservoir was formed in 1965 by the construction of a dam across the creek. The dam and lake are managed by the City of Alice. Lake Findley serves as a venue for recreation, especially fishing.

Averhoff Reservoir is a 173-acre narrow, riverine-type reservoir located on the Nueces River 10 mi (16 km) north of the town of Crystal City in Zavala County, Texas, United States, and 100 miles from San Antonio, Texas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lake Corpus Christi</span> Water supply reservoir in Texas, US

Lake Corpus Christi is a reservoir in coastal southern Texas. The lake was created by impoundment of the Nueces River by the Wesley E. Seale Dam opened in 1958. The lake and the dam that creates it are managed by the City of Corpus Christi. Lake Corpus Christi was originally known as Lake Lovenskiold. It is often referred to as Lake Mathis because of its location.

Comanche Creek Reservoir is a 3,275-acre (13.3 km²) impoundment located between Glen Rose, Texas and Granbury, Texas. The primary purpose is cooling for Comanche Peak Nuclear Generating Station. During full operation of both units of Comanche Peak, 2.2 million US gallons (8,300 m3) of water are pumped through the plant's main condensers from Comanche Creek Reservoir.

Peña Blanca Lake is a reservoir in Arizona, United States, located 18 miles (29 km) northwest of Nogales. The facilities are maintained by the Coronado National Forest division of the USDA Forest Service. The lake was created in 1957 by the Arizona Game and Fish Department.Back then this lake was known for a plush resort that was located there. In 2008, the lake was closed to clean mercury contamination within the sediment, thought to be from old mines in the area. Also the former plush resort was removed as well. The lake was reopened in August 2009. In 2013, an Arizona Department of Environmental Quality report showed that mercury levels were similar to those before the lake was drained and dredged. One potential cause for the high mercury could be naturally occurring mercury seeping through the faults or a spring in the lake, though these claims are still under investigation.

Lake Holbrook is a lake in Wood County, Texas, United States. It is roughly 3 miles northwest of the city of Mineola, Texas, which has a population of 4,823 according to he 2020 census. Lake Holbrook is a part of the Sabine River basin and sit on Keys Creek.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lake Pueblo State Park</span> State park in Colorado, United States

Lake Pueblo State Park is a state park located in Pueblo County, Colorado. It includes 60 miles (97 km) of shoreline and 10,000 acres (40 km2) of land. Activities it offers include two full-service marinas, recreational fishing, hiking, camping and swimming at a special swim beach.

Lake Tyler East is a reservoir on Mud Creek in the Neches River Basin of Smith County, Texas. It is neighbored by Whitehouse, Texas that is encompassed by Tyler, Texas which resides within the South Central Plains ecoregion.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lake Leon (Texas)</span> Lake in Texas

Lake Leon is located in Eastland County and was created by the State Board of Water Engineers by impounding the Leon River. In reference to Abilene, Texas with a population of around 125,000, it is 68 miles east, and in reference to Eastland, Texas with a population of around 4,000, it is 10 miles southeast. Lake Leon is found in the Brazos River and in the Cross Timbers ecoregion, more specifically the Cross Timbers Grand Prairie ecoregion.

References

  1. ↑ "2020 Census is Complete". Abilene Chamber of Commerce. 2021-08-19. Retrieved 2022-11-30.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 "Kirby Lake (Brazos River Basin) | Texas Water Development Board". www.twdb.texas.gov. Retrieved 2022-11-30.
  3. ↑ US EPA, ORD (2016-03-09). "Ecoregion Download Files by State - Region 6". www.epa.gov. Retrieved 2022-11-30.
  4. 1 2 "Kirby Lake".
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Fishing Kirby Lake". tpwd.texas.gov. Retrieved 2022-11-30.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Kirby Reservoir Survey Report". tpwd.texas.gov. Retrieved 2022-11-30.
  7. ↑ Alvarez, Elizabeth Cruce (2012). Texas Almanac 2012-2013. Texas State Historical Association - University of North Texas. ISBN   978-0-87611-247-2 . Retrieved April 29, 2013.
  8. ↑ "Kirby Lake popular with local anglers". Abilene Reporter-News. March 12, 2011. Archived from the original on June 30, 2013. Retrieved April 29, 2013.
  9. ↑ "Access to Kirby Lake". tpwd.texas.gov. Retrieved 2022-11-30.
  10. ↑ "Stocking Report for Kirby". tpwd.texas.gov. Retrieved 2022-11-30.
  11. ↑ Foster, Jim (2011). Birding Trails Texas: Prairies and Pineywoods, Panhandle, 216 Trails for the Avid Birder. Sandhill Crane Press. p. 47. ISBN   978-1-932098-90-7 . Retrieved April 29, 2013.
  12. ↑ Wauer, Roland H. (2006). Finding Butterflies in Texas: A Guide to the Best Sites. Johnson Books / Big Earth Publishing. pp. 48–50. ISBN   1-55566-366-4 . Retrieved April 29, 2013.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.