Wirtz Dam (formerly Granite Shoals Dam) was constructed from 1949 to 1951 to provide

hydroelectric power Hydroelectricity, or hydroelectric power, is electricity generated from hydropower (water power). Hydropower supplies one sixth of the world's electricity, almost 4500 TWh in 2020, which is more than all other renewable sources combined and ...

and to form Lake Lyndon B. Johnson (formerly Lake Granite Shoals), one of the Texas Highland Lakes. Lake LBJ ‒ as it is more commonly referred to ‒ provides cooling water for the Lower Colorado River Authority's

Thomas C. Ferguson Power Plant The Thomas C. Ferguson Power Plant consists of dual natural gas fired turbines and a single steam turbine run by exhaust heat from the gas turbines in a combined cycle configuration that generates 540 megawatts (MW) of electricity. The facility is ...

along Horseshoe Bay. Wirtz Dam was originally named Granite Shoals Dam until 1951 when it was renamed in honor of Alvin J. Wirtz who had been instrumental in the formation of the LCRA. Likewise, Lake LBJ was originally named Lake Granite Shoals until 1965 when it was renamed for another advocate of the LCRA, U.S. President

Lyndon B. Johnson Lyndon Baines Johnson (; August 27, 1908January 22, 1973), often referred to by his initials LBJ, was an American politician who served as the 36th president of the United States from 1963 to 1969. He had previously served as the 37th vice ...

. Wirtz Dam and Lake LBJ are located due west of

Lake Marble Falls 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 Da ...

and the city of

Marble Falls, Texas Marble Falls is a city in Burnet County, Texas, United States. As of the 2020 United States Census, the city population was 7,033. Lake Marble Falls is part of the Highland Lakes on the Colorado River, the largest chain of lakes in Texas. Hi ...

References

External links

LCRA Website
Buildings and structures in Burnet County, Texas Dams in Texas Hydroelectric power plants in Texas Lower Colorado River Authority dams Dams completed in 1950 Energy infrastructure completed in 1950 {{Hydroelectric-power-plant-stub