Lake Ray Hubbard facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lake Ray Hubbard |
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 Lake Ray Hubbard
Location in Texas
Lake Ray Hubbard
Location in the United States
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| Location | Rockwall / Dallas / Collin / Kaufman Counties, Texas, US |
| Coordinates | 32°47′58″N 96°29′42″W / 32.79944°N 96.49500°W |
| Type | Reservoir |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Surface area | 22,745 acres (9,205 ha) |
| Max. depth | 40 ft (12 m) |
| Surface elevation | 435.5 ft (132.7 m) |
Lake Ray Hubbard is a big freshwater lake in Texas. It's located near Dallas and touches four different counties: Dallas, Kaufman, Collin, and Rockwall. This lake was made by building a dam called the Rockwall-Forney Dam across the East Fork Trinity River.
Lake Ray Hubbard is huge, covering about 22,745 acres (9,205 ha)! It can hold a lot of water and is about 40 ft (12 m) deep at its deepest point. The City of Dallas owns the dam that created the lake.
A major highway, Interstate 30, actually crosses right through the middle of the lake. The lake was first called Forney Lake, named after the nearby town of Forney. Later, the City of Dallas renamed it after Ray Hubbard. He was a person who worked for the Dallas Parks and Recreation System for many years. Today, Dallas Water Utilities manages and owns the lake.
Contents
Building Lake Ray Hubbard
Why the Lake Was Built
Lake Ray Hubbard was created to provide fresh water for the growing North Texas area. People needed a reliable source of water for their homes and businesses.
How the Lake Was Made
The project to build the lake started in 1964. Several construction companies worked together on this big job. The lake began to fill with water in 1968. A large earth dam, about 2-mile (3.2 km) long, was finished in 1969. By 1970, the lake had reached its full size.
Who Manages the Lake Today
Even though the lake is surrounded by several towns, the City of Dallas is in charge of it. This is because Dallas has grown and now includes the lake area. Dallas works with other nearby cities to manage the lake.
Crossing the Lake
Because Lake Ray Hubbard is in a busy area, many bridges and roads cross it. These help people travel easily across the water.
Major Bridges and Roads
The most important crossing is Interstate 30 (I-30). It has six lanes and stretches about 2.9-mile (4.7 km) across the lake. The President George Bush Turnpike also crosses the lake. Its eastern part was finished in 2012 and includes a 0.9-mile (1.4 km) bridge.
Other Crossings
The Texas State Highway 66 bridge was built in the 1970s and later made wider. It connects the towns of Rowlett and Rockwall. There are also smaller bridges on Rowlett Road and Miller Road. A railway line, now part of Union Pacific, also crosses an inlet of the lake.
Plants in the Lake
Sometimes, parts of Lake Ray Hubbard have a lot of a plant called hydrilla. This plant can grow very quickly in the water.
Fishing in Lake Ray Hubbard
Lake Ray Hubbard is a great place for fishing! It has many different kinds of fish.
Types of Fish You Can Catch
You can find a large number of hybrid striped bass and white bass in the lake. There are also many largemouth bass. If you like catfish, you might catch channel catfish or blue catfish. Other popular fish include white crappie and even the large alligator gar.
