User:RachKingg/Lake Palo Pinto

Lake Palo Pinto is a reservoir located 15 miles southwest of Mineral Wells and 80 miles southwest of Fort Worth in Palo Pinto county, TX.

Latitude: 32°38' N

Longitude: 98°16' W

Palo Pinto reservoir was created in January 1964 when the Palo Pinto Creek was impounded to create a reservoir to provide a stable water source for Mineral Wells. The Palo Pinto Creek is a tributary of the Brazos River. 

Hydrology
The Palo Pinto reservoir is a tributary of the Brazos River.

Surface area: 2,399 acres

Maximum depth: 47 feet

Yearly depth fluctuation: 5 feet

Normal water clarity: 1-2 feet visibility

Capacity: 27,215 acre-feet

Annual precipitation: 34 inches

The Palo Pinto Creek Dam forms the reservoir.

Dam length: 1,255 feet

Dam height: 96 feet

Date created: November 13th, 1965

Flora and Fauna
High water fluctuations and rocky shorelines prevent aquatic vegetation from establishing along the shoreline.

There are many species of fish that can be consistently found in the Palo Pinto reservoir, including Largemouth Bass, Palmetto Bass (Hybrid Striped Bass), White Striped Bass, Channel Catfish, Flathead Catfish, and White Crappie. The reservoir is regularly stocked with Palmetto Bass and Largemouth Bass.

Uses/Purpose
The reservoir and dam are owned and managed by the Palo Pinto Municipal Water District No. 1 and provides most of the municipal drinking water for the city of Mineral Wells, and is used as cooling water for the Brazos Electric power plant located on the shoreline.

The majority of the shoreline is privately owned, with the exception of three public boat ramps, the Palo Pinto Creek Dam, and the Brazos Electric power plant.

Recreation
There are three public boat ramps on Lake Palo Pinto – the North Ramp, the Love Ramp, and the FM 2692 Ramp. The North Ramp is located on the northeast side of the lake, the Love Ramp is located on the north side of Palo Pinto Creek, and the FM 2692 Ram is on the south side of the Palo pinto creek. The majority of homeowners with property on the lakefront have private docks, and there is a regular amount of water recreation such as boating, water skiing, swimming, and fishing. The lake is stocked regularly with two different types of Bass and is classified as a fair fishing site.

History
Lake Palo Pinto is named after the county it can be found in, and was formed in 1965 when the Palo Pinto Creek was impounded to create a reservoir to provide a reliable water source to the city of Mineral Wells.