Gibbons Creek Reservoir facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Gibbons Creek Reservoir |
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The power plant at Gibbons Creek Reservoir
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 Gibbons Creek Reservoir
Location in Texas
Gibbons Creek Reservoir
Location in the United States
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| Location | Grimes County, Texas |
| Coordinates | 30°37.45′N 96°3.85′W / 30.62417°N 96.06417°W |
| Type | Power plant cooling reservoir |
| Primary inflows | Gibbons Creek |
| Primary outflows | Gibbons Creek |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Surface area | 2,770 acres (1,120 ha) |
| Max. depth | 34 ft (10 m) |
| Surface elevation | 247 ft (75 m) |
Gibbons Creek Reservoir is also known as Gibbons Creek Lake. It's a special lake built to help cool down a power plant. This reservoir is located on Gibbons Creek in Texas, about 20 miles (32 km) east of College Station.
The Texas Municipal Power Agency (TMPA) manages the lake and its dam. They used the reservoir to cool a power plant that made electricity. This electricity powered homes and businesses in cities like Bryan, Denton, Garland, and Greenville.
The reservoir was created in 1981. It quickly became a popular spot for fun activities because it's close to the Bryan-College Station area.
In 2019, the power plant near the lake stopped working. This happened because making electricity from coal became too expensive. It was cheaper to use natural gas instead.
Fish and Wildlife
Gibbons Creek Reservoir is home to many types of fish. These fish were put into the lake to make it a great place for fishing. You can find fish like largemouth bass, bluegill, catfish, and crappie here.
The lake water can sometimes look a bit cloudy. This is called being turbid. The lake also has some trees and plants growing in the water. Along the edges of the lake, you'll see native grasses and trees like oak and elm.
Fun Things to Do
Gibbons Creek Reservoir is a popular place for boating and fishing. The power plant used to pump warm water into the lake. This kept the water warm all year, even in winter. Because of this, people could fish here even when other lakes were too cold.
The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department helps manage all the fishing and other fun activities on the lake. They make sure everyone follows the rules.
