Lake Ray Roberts (formally Ray Roberts Lake) is an artificial American
reservoir
A reservoir (; from French ''réservoir'' ) is an enlarged lake behind a dam. Such a dam may be either artificial, built to store fresh water or it may be a natural formation.
Reservoirs can be created in a number of ways, including contro ...
located north of
Denton, Texas
Denton is a city in and the county seat of Denton County, Texas, United States. With a population of 139,869 as of 2020, it is the 27th-most populous city in Texas, the 197th-most populous city in the United States, and the 12th-most populous ...
, between the cities of
Pilot Point, Texas
Pilot Point is a city in Denton County, Texas, United States. Its population was 3,856 at the 2010 census, increasing to 4,381 at the 2020 census.
Geography
Pilot Point is located at (33.396350, –96.958719). According to the United States Cens ...
and
Sanger, Texas. It is filled by a tributary of the
Trinity River.
It was named after
Ray Roberts
Herbert Ray Roberts (March 28, 1913 – April 13, 1992) represented Texas's 4th congressional district from 1962 to 1981. He was a Democrat.
Early life and education
Roberts was born in rural Collin County, Texas in 1913. He grew up in the r ...
(a local congressman who supported creation of the lake) in 1980.
The reservoir is located in, and supplies water to,
Cooke
Cooke is a surname derived from the occupation of cook. Notable people with the surname include:
* Alexander Cooke (died 1614), English actor
* Alfred Tyrone Cooke, of the Indo-Pakistani wars
* Alistair Cooke KBE (1908–2004), British-American j ...
,
Grayson, and
Denton counties.
On March 2, 1945, the U.S. Congress approved the River & Harbors Act of 1945 which, among many projects, provided for the construction of Benbrook Lake, Grapevine Lake, Lavon Lake and Ray Roberts Lake, as well as modifications to the existing Garza Dam for the construction of Lewisville Lake. Ray Roberts Dam, an earthen structure 141 feet high, is owned and operated by the
.
Ray Roberts is also used for recreation and is home to the
Ray Roberts Lake State Park
Ray Roberts Lake State Park is a state park located in Denton County, Texas, near Pilot Point, Texas. The park is . It is very popular due to its proximity to the Dallas–Fort Worth metro area – in 2016, it was the 8th most popular Texas st ...
.
The construction of Lake Ray Roberts resulted in the dissolution of several communities in the surrounding area. One notable community, which surrounded St. James Baptist Church, was given funds to build a new church in the nearby town of Pilot Point.
See also
*
Trinity River Authority
The Trinity River Authority (TRA) was formed in 1955 by the Texas legislature. Its main concerns are water supply and water conservation in the Trinity River Basin. The authority extends over , including all or part of 17 counties.Trinity River ...
References
External links
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers: Ray Roberts LakeU.S. Army Corps of Engineers: Corps Lake Gateway – Ray Roberts LakeTexas Parks and Wildlife: Ray Roberts Lake Wildlife Management Area
Reservoirs in Texas
Trinity River (Texas)
Bodies of water of Denton County, Texas
Bodies of water of Cooke County, Texas
Bodies of water of Grayson County, Texas
Dams in Texas
United States Army Corps of Engineers dams
Protected areas of Denton County, Texas
Protected areas of Cooke County, Texas
Protected areas of Grayson County, Texas
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