User:Courtneythom123/Kirby Lake

Kirby Lake, or Kirby Reservoir, is located in Taylor County, Texas around 5 miles (8 kilometers) south of Abilene, Texas, which has a population of 125,000, and east of US-83. Kirby Lake is within the Brazos River Basin, meaning that Cedar Creek, which feed Kirby Lake, eventually feeds into the Brazos River.

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 (5 meters). The watershed which feeds Kirby Lake is around 44 square miles (114 square kilometers), and Cedar Creek is the impounded river which the dam is named after. The water level fluctuates in relation to water demand. The turbidity is less than 1 foot (300 centimeters) with a red coloring. Since the dam's creation, Kirby Lake has only dried out once in 2000. In an effort to restore the lake, treated wastewater was used as an addition inflow, and by 2002 Kirby Lake was once again full.

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

Fishing
The fish that are commonly hunted for sport without state restriction are blue catfish and channel catfish, however, lake specific regulations based on minimum lengths and daily bag limits still must be followed. Other fish like white crappie, saugeye, largemouth bass, and sunfishes are allowed to be caught if state regulations are being followed. The most commonly caught fish were the catfishes.

Boating
There are two boat ramps and a handicap accessible fishing pier connected to the city park located on the east side of Kirby Lake.

Management
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department monitored the fish populations of Kirby Lake to determine the best management plans. 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. The lake has been stocked with fish numerous times in it's history, but the most current time was when 40,000 Florida largemouth base were released in 2014. 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.

Fauna
The most populous fish are:


 * largemouth bass
 * channel catfish
 * blue catfish
 * saugeye
 * white crappie
 * bluegill
 * green sunfish
 * common carp
 * gizzard shad

Flora
The most populous hydrophilic vegetation are:


 * bulrush
 * black willow
 * salt cedar