Lake Bardwell facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Lake Bardwell
Trinity River Basin
USACE Lake Bardwell and Dam
Lake Bardwell Location in Texas
Location	Ellis County, Texas, United States of America
Coordinates	32°16′41″N 96°39′29″W / 32.278°N 96.658°W / 32.278; -96.658
Type	reservoir
Primary inflows	Waxahachie Creek
Primary outflows	Waxahachie Creek
Basin countries	United States
Managing agency	US Army Corps of Engineers
Built	September, 1963
First flooded	01/01/1965
Max. length	5.4 miles (8.7 km)
Max. width	1.2 miles (1.9 km)
Surface area	3,570 acres (1,440 ha)
Water volume	140,000 acre⋅ft (0.17 km3)
Shore length1	25 miles (40 km)
Surface elevation	421 feet (128 m)
Settlements	Ennis and Bardwell
1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure.

Lake Bardwell is a beautiful lake located in Ellis County, Texas. It was built by the United States Army Corps of Engineers in 1965. This lake is a great place for everyone to visit and have fun, as it's open to the public for many activities. You can enjoy seven different areas around the lake, though one boat ramp is currently closed.

Discover Lake Bardwell

Lake Bardwell is found entirely within Ellis County, Texas. It's about 45 miles south of Dallas. You can find it 10 miles southeast of Waxahachie and 5 miles south of Ennis. The city of Bardwell is just west of the lake.

The lake is about 5.4 miles long. At its widest point, it stretches 1.2 miles across. The shoreline of Lake Bardwell is 25 miles long. Highway 34 crosses over the lake. Forests and farms surround most of the lake. These farms use the lake's water for their crops.

Why Was Lake Bardwell Built?

The United States Army Corps of Engineers finished building Lake Bardwell in November 1965. It was created for a few important reasons. One main goal was to supply water for nearby towns. Another big reason was to help control floods. It also provides a fun place for people to enjoy outdoor activities.

The lake is part of a larger project. This project helps control floods in the Trinity River Basin. The area where Lake Bardwell is built gets a good amount of rain. The average temperature at the lake is about 64.8 °F (18.2 °C). July is usually the warmest month, and January is the coolest.

If you need to contact the park staff, you can call them at (972) 875-5711. You might also see parts of an old bridge sticking out of the water. This was once a bridge connecting Old Waxahachie Road to Ennis Parkway.

Lake Bardwell's History

The idea to build Lake Bardwell was approved in 1960. Construction on the lake started in September 1963. The lake began filling with water in November 1965. Building the lake cost about $12.6 million.

Lake Bardwell was built to help control floods. It also helps save water for nearby towns. The lake collects water from an area of 178 square miles. It can hold about 326,000 gallons of water. The lake has a special flood-control area. This area helps prevent flood damage to towns and wildlife. It does this by slowly releasing water. This way, creeks downstream don't get too full.

How the Military Is Involved

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers built Lake Bardwell. However, they have never used it for military operations. Instead, they let people use the lake for fun activities. This is part of their plan to manage natural resources.

Lake Bardwell also helps manage the wetland area around it. The Buffalo Creek Wetland is on the south side of the lake. It was created to make up for wetlands that were lost. This happened during the building of the Superconducting Super Collider.

The lake has protected nearby cities and grasslands from floods. In 1963, the city of Ennis made a deal. They could use 25% of the lake's water. Later, in 1969, this deal changed. Ennis could use 60% of the water. Waxahachie could use 40%. This water supply has helped both Ennis and Waxahachie. Their economies are mostly based on agriculture and related businesses.

Lake Bardwell During COVID-19

On April 16, 2020, all recreation areas at Lake Bardwell were closed. This included trails. The closure was due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Fun Activities and Places to Visit

Lake Bardwell is open to the public from 6:00 am to 10:00 pm. If you leave after 10:00 pm, you can't drive back in. But you can park outside and walk to your spot.

There is a $5.00 fee per vehicle to use the parks. This helps cover the costs of the facilities. The marina at High View Park has its own separate fees. Visitors coming to see campers don't have to pay a fee.

Park Facilities Status

Here's a quick look at the status of the different areas at Lake Bardwell:

Lake Bardwell location

A U.S. Army Corps of Engineers created map of Love Park

A U.S. Army Corps of Engineers-created map of Waxahachie Creek Park

• Love Park: This park is on the southeast side of the lake. It has 20 covered picnic tables. There's a four-lane boat ramp with parking for 20 vehicles. You can also find a volleyball court here. Love Park is open all year.
• State Public Ramp: This ramp is currently closed.
• Little Mustang Creek Park: Located on the north side of the lake. It has a four-lane boat ramp with parking for 20 vehicles. This park is open all year.

A U.S. Army Corps of Engineers created map of High View Park

A U.S. Army Corps of Engineers created map of Mott Park

• Waxahachie Creek Park: This park is along the Waxahachie Creek arm of the lake. It offers 69 campsites with water and electricity. There are also 7 campsites without hook-ups. You'll find 13 picnic sites and a nature trail. The park has two four-lane boat ramps. It's open all year.
• High View Park & Marina: This park is on the west side of the lake. It has 39 campsites with water and electricity. There's a swim beach and 10 picnic sites. You'll also find a four-lane boat ramp and a full-service marina. This park is open all year.
• Mott Park: Located on the west side of the lake. It has 33 campsites with water and electricity. There are also 7 campsites without hook-ups. You'll find a four-lane boat ramp and a courtesy dock. This park has a swim beach and two fishing areas. It's open all year.
• Meadow View Nature Area: This area is on the northeast side of the lake. It has 20 covered picnic tables.

Camping at Lake Bardwell

The venue for hire when going group camping in Mott Park at Lake Bardwell

Lake Bardwell offers two types of camping: group camping and developed camping. If you plan a special event, you might need a permit. This includes things like bounce houses or weddings. Swimming pools are not allowed.

Group Camping

Mott Park and Waxahachie Creek Park offer group camping. You can reserve shelters for your group. Reservations start at 10:00 am and end at 9:00 am the next day.

• Mott Park: The shelter has 6 picnic tables and a barbecue grill. It has 4 hookups for RVs or camping trailers. There are 27 parking spaces. The shelter can hold 100 visitors.
• Waxahachie Creek Park: The covered shelter has 12 picnic tables and a barbecue grill. It has 8 hookups for RVs or camping trailers. There are 66 parking spaces. This shelter can hold 200 visitors.

The venue for hire when going group camping in Waxahachie Creek Park at Lake Bardwell

Developed Camping

Three parks at Lake Bardwell offer developed camping: High View Park, Mott Park, and Waxahachie Creek Park. These sites usually have amenities like water and electric hook-ups.

Fishing at Lake Bardwell

Fishing rules for Lake Bardwell follow statewide regulations. Hybrid fish are added to the lake every year. You can often catch crappie at Highview Marina. They are also found under the Highway 34 bridge. During spawning season, you can find them in Waxahachie and Mustang Creeks.

Here are some types of fish found in Lake Bardwell:

A very large bass was once caught at Lake Bardwell. It weighed 10.802 pounds and was 24.5 inches long. The people who caught it released it back into the lake. There were worries about an invasive mussel species spreading. However, the zebra mussel has not been confirmed in Lake Bardwell.

Birdwatching at the Lake

Birdwatching is a popular activity for many visitors at Lake Bardwell.

Trails for Hiking and Riding

The Bardwell Equestrian and Multiuse Trail

The Bardwell Equestrian and Multiuse Trail is over 13 miles long. You can hike, bike, or ride horses on it. The trail offers a round trip of about 26 miles. Horse riders usually have the right of way on the trail. The main trail is flat. It has many loops into meadows and forests. This trail is in a hunting area around the lake.

The trail head offers:

• An information board
• Parking for trailers with hitching posts
• Campsites for horse riders
• Water hook-ups
• A horse barn with two stalls per site
• Trail maps at the gate house

A U.S. Army Corps of Engineers created map of Tonkawa Trail

The Tonkawa Trail, also called the Buffalo Creek Wetland Trail, is almost a mile long. It gives you access to the Buffalo Creek Wetland. The trail has a firm surface of crushed granite. There are four observation shelters along the trail. These shelters let you watch the plants and animals in the wetlands.

The Waxahachie Trail goes through a dense forest. You can see three layers of forest plants on this trail.

Other Fun Activities

Boating

Hunting

Hunting map of Lake Bardwell

You do not need a permit to go hunting at Lake Bardwell. The hunting area covers 2,528 acres. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers manages the hunting program. They work with Texas Parks and Wildlife Department to offer hunting opportunities.

Swimming

Lake Bardwell has two developed swim beaches. There are no lifeguards at these beaches. Pets, grills, and glass containers are not allowed in the swim areas.

• High View Park: The beach is about 300 feet long and 100 feet wide. Restrooms and parking are close by. There is a $4.00 fee per vehicle to use the beach.
• Mott Park: This beach is also about 300 feet long and 100 feet wide. Restrooms with showers and parking are nearby. A $4.00 fee per vehicle is required to use this beach.

Wildlife at Lake Bardwell

Plants (Flora)

Meadow View Nature Area with bluebonnets in the foreground

You can find beautiful bluebonnets in the Meadow View Nature Area. A plant called Hydrilla can be found north of the Highway 34 Bridge.

Animals (Fauna)

A whooping crane

Many types of birds visit Lake Bardwell. These include ducks, herons, egrets, songbirds, hawks, and cormorants. Lake Bardwell is an important stop for whooping cranes during their long migration. These cranes stop 15 to 20 times on their 2,500-mile journey. They rest and find food here. However, much of the lake's shore is used for recreation. This makes it harder for the cranes to roost (rest). They usually like to roost in water that is 2 to 10 inches deep.

In the Buffalo Creek Wetland, you can find ponds with frogs and crayfish. Large birds like great blue herons and great egrets often hunt here. In the wooded parts of the Buffalo Creek Wetland trail, you might see woodland birds. These include downy and red-bellied woodpeckers, and barred owls.

Fish are added to Lake Bardwell to make sure there are enough for anglers. This also helps keep the lake's ecosystem healthy. Some fish that are stocked include sunfish, catfish (channel, blue), and bass (sunshine, striped, palmetto, largemouth, Florida largemouth).

Images for kids

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  The location of Lake Bardwell in Texas

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  A contour map of the depths in Lake Bardwell