User:Bgood2day/Lake Waxahachie

Introduction
Lake Waxahachie is known by its two other names: Trinity River Basin and South Prong Dam. The reason the lake is named Trinity River Basin is because three rivers: Prong Creek, Chambers Creek, and Richland Creek join to form the Trinity River. The word Waxahachie supposedly originated from a Tonkawa Native American word for “Buffalo Creek”.

Geography
Lake Waxahachie is four miles away from town Waxahachie, Ellis County or better context 40 miles south of Dallas,.

Surface Area 656 Acres

Maximum Depth: 48 Feet

Impounded: 1956

Aquatic Habitat: Channel and Blue Catfish, Crappi, Walleye, Trout, Catfish, Largemouth Bass, White Bass

Source: Texas Parks and Wildlife, ,

History
On March 14, 1955, State Board of Water Engineers approved a dam to impound and form a lake by issuing Permit No. 1742 (Application No. 1874). Then the water was stored and used for residential water use.

=== Pesticides (2000s) === Prior 1991, the United States did not have data about lakes’ water quality readily available. U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) launched a program National Water Quality Assessment (NAWQA) whose goal is to analyze water quality in reservoirs/basins and post-treatment and concentration of pesticides. One of the site samples was taken from Lake Waxahachie from May through September 1999. The samples were taken in accordance with NAWQA’s guidelines to analyze during the peak pesticide concentration period and one taken in December 1999. The samples were collected at two points, before entering the treatment plant and after the water has been treated. At the source of the water, sixteen out of eighteen chemicals were pesticides and the two others were a fungicide and herbicide. All the pesticides in the finished drinking water was also found in samples taken at the source of water.

Water Conservation
As global warming has become a bigger issue and is affecting peoples’ lives and impacting agriculture, ecosystems, and the economy, Lake Waxahachie is potentially facing a slow decline of water level. Due Texas’ spring rainy season, the lake’s water capacity bounces back to 100% and sometimes over 100% resulting in regional flooding. Area of concern is that global warming can generate heatwaves, push bodies of water to evaporate faster, and alter seasonal weather patterns yielding risks of drought or flooding issues, augmenting into environmental crises.

Recreation
Viewable on Texas Parks and Wildlife’s Recreation page, the page updates from time to time regarding the abundance of fish stock, lake level, water turbidity. Lake Waxahachie is a great place to find abundant largemouth bass. In addition, channel catfish and white crappie thrive in the lake’s alkaline water. Lake Waxahachie is not only limited to fishing, recreational activities such as boating, camping, and hiking is permitted. There are 13 miles of trail and 65 campsites with water and electricity available,. Check out Texas Parks and Wildlife page to ensure you are environmentally compliant, obtain a fishing license through the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD.texas.gov) main webpage. and prepare for your next adventure at Lake Waxahachie,.