Lake Georgetown is a
reservoir
A reservoir (; ) is an enlarged lake behind a dam, usually built to water storage, store fresh water, often doubling for hydroelectric power generation.
Reservoirs are created by controlling a watercourse that drains an existing body of wa ...
on the north fork of the
San Gabriel River in central
Texas
Texas ( , ; or ) is the most populous U.S. state, state in the South Central United States, South Central region of the United States. It borders Louisiana to the east, Arkansas to the northeast, Oklahoma to the north, New Mexico to the we ...
in the
United States
The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...
. Lake Georgetown is a
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
The United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) is the military engineering branch of the United States Army. A direct reporting unit (DRU), it has three primary mission areas: Engineer Regiment, military construction, and civil wor ...
reservoir formed on the San Gabriel by the North San Gabriel Dam, which is located about three miles west of
Georgetown, Texas
Georgetown is a city in Texas and the county seat of Williamson County, Texas, United States. The population was 67,176 at the 2020 census, and according to 2024 census estimates, the city is estimated to have a population of 101,344. It is no ...
. The dam, lake and all adjacent property are managed by the Fort Worth District of the Corps of Engineers. The dam was officially completed on October 5, 1979, and serves to provide flood control for the community of Georgetown. Lake Georgetown, a popular recreational destination, is also a source of drinking water for Georgetown and the nearby city of
Round Rock
Round Rock is a city in Williamson County, Texas, Williamson and Travis County, Texas, United States, part of the Greater Austin metropolitan area. Its population is 119,468 according to the 2020 United States Census, 2020 census.
The city stra ...
.
The only other reservoir on the San Gabriel River is
Granger Lake
History
Granger Lake is a United States Army Corps of Engineers reservoir on the San Gabriel River in central Texas in the United States. It is one of the 11 reservoirs that make up the Brazos River basin. The lake is located near the towns ...
, located near
Granger, Texas
Granger is a city in Williamson County, Texas, United States. It was incorporated in 1891. The population was 1,183 at the 2020 census.
History
In the late 19th century, Granger was one of the centers of the large Moravian Czech immigrant popu ...
about 25 airline miles downstream of Lake Georgetown.
Fish populations
Lake Georgetown has been stocked with several species of fish intended to improve the utility of the reservoir for recreational fishing. Fish present in Lake Georgetown include
largemouth bass
The largemouth bass (''Micropterus nigricans'') is a carnivorous, freshwater fish, freshwater, ray-finned fish in the Centrarchidae (sunfish) family, native to the eastern United States, eastern and central United States, southeastern Canada an ...
,
catfish
Catfish (or catfishes; order (biology), order Siluriformes or Nematognathi) are a diverse group of ray-finned fish. Catfish are common name, named for their prominent barbel (anatomy), barbels, which resemble a cat's whiskers, though not ...
,
white bass
The white bass, silver bass, or sand bass (''Morone chrysops'') is a freshwater fish of the temperate bass family Moronidae. commonly around 12–15 inches long. The species' main color is silver-white to pale green. Its back is dark, with whit ...
,
hybrid striped bass
A hybrid striped bass (''Morone chrysops × M. saxatilis''), also commonly referred to by the portmanteau wiper, is a freshwater hybrid fish between white bass (''Morone chrysops'') and striped bass (''M. saxatilis''). In the United States, wipe ...
,
crappie
Crappies () are two species of North American freshwater fish of the genus ''Pomoxis'' in the family Centrarchidae (sunfishes). Both species of crappies are popular game fish among recreational anglers.
Etymology
The genus name ''Pomoxi ...
, and
sunfish.
Recreational uses
In addition to maintaining the dam that creates the reservoir, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers maintains recreational facilities at the lake. Cedar Breaks Park, Russell Park, Jim Hogg Park and Overlook Park include day-use areas for picnics. Cedar Breaks, Jim Hogg and Russell Parks have boat ramp facilities for recreational boating. No camping is permitted at Overlook Park (the only free entry park on the lake).
The Goodwater Trail is a hiking trail that follows the entire perimeter of the lake with trailheads at Cedar Breaks, Overlook, Jim Hogg, and Russell Park. Tejas Camp, while technically on the San Gabriel River and not on the lake, also has trail access and is the only other entry or exit point to the southern half of the trail than Cedar Breaks. Mountain biking is allowed on the entire length of the loop thanks to the Austin Ridge Riders group for their work on the southern half of the trail. Beginner riders would be wise to stay on the North shore as it permits shorter trips with water refilling available and multiple exits. The southern shore presents a much more challenging ride with its rocky terrain and steep drop-offs and is not recommended for beginners. Also, there are no water refilling stations or trail exits on the approximately 12 miles between Cedar Breaks and Camp Tejas.
Overnight primitive camping is allowed at Sawyer Park, roughly halfway between Cedar Breaks and Tejas.
External links
Official Lake Georgetown web siteLake Georgetown - Texas Parks & Wildlife
*
{{authority control
Georgetown
Protected areas of Williamson County, Texas
Bodies of water of Williamson County, Texas
1979 establishments in Texas