Lake Wood facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lake Wood |
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Rec area at Lake Wood in 2008.
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 Lake Wood
Location in Texas
Lake Wood
Location in the United States
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| Location | Gonzales County, Texas |
| Coordinates | 29°28.12′N 97°29.66′W / 29.46867°N 97.49433°W |
| Type | Hydroelectric reservoir |
| Primary inflows | Guadalupe River |
| Primary outflows | Guadalupe River |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Surface area | 229 acres (93 ha) |
| Max. depth | 17 ft (5.2 m) |
| Water volume | 4,000 acre⋅ft (0.0049 km3) |
| Surface elevation | 292 ft (89 m) |
Lake Wood was a man-made lake, also called a reservoir, located in Gonzales County, Texas. It was built on the Guadalupe River, about 4 miles (6 km) west of the town of Gonzales. This lake was created in 1931 to help make electricity using water power, which is called hydroelectricity.
The lake was also known by other names, like H-5 Reservoir or Guadalupe Reservoir H-5. For many years, Lake Wood was a popular spot for outdoor fun, including fishing and boating.
Sadly, on March 10, 2016, a part of the dam's gate broke after a lot of rain. This caused almost all the water to drain out of Lake Wood. The area where the lake used to be is now covered with plants and looks like a forest.
Contents
Life in Lake Wood: Fish and Plants
Lake Wood was home to many different kinds of fish and plants. Fish were added to the lake on purpose to make it a better place for people to fish.
Fish Species
Some of the fish that lived in Lake Wood included:
- Catfish
- White crappie
- Sunfish
- Largemouth bass
Plant Life
The lake also had various types of plants growing in and around its waters. These plants helped create a healthy environment for the fish and other wildlife. Some of the plants found there were:
- Cattail
- Pondweed
- American lotus
- Spatterdock
- Rushes
- Water hyacinth
- Water lettuce
- Hydrilla
Fun at Lake Wood: Recreation
The Guadalupe-Blanco River Authority helped manage Lake Wood. They took over caring for the dam and lake on May 1, 1963. This group also ran a park near the lake.
Park Facilities
The park was about 35 acres (14 hectares) and had a store. It offered different ways for people to enjoy the outdoors:
