Lavon Lake facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lavon Lake |
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Aerial view of Lavon Dam and Lake
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 Lavon Lake
Location in Texas
Lavon Lake
Location in the United States
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| Location | Collin County, Texas |
| Coordinates | 33°02′40″N 96°27′56″W / 33.04444°N 96.46556°W |
| Lake type | man made lake |
| Primary inflows | East Fork of the Trinity River |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Surface area | 21,400 acres (87 km2) |
| Max. depth | 38 ft (12 m) |
| Shore length1 | 83 mi (134 km) |
| 1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure. | |
Lavon Lake is a large freshwater reservoir in southeast Collin County, Texas. It is located on the East Fork of the Trinity River, close to Wylie. You can find it off State Highway 78.
Even though many people call it Lake Lavon for fun and business, its official name is Lavon Lake. This name is used by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. When it was first made, it was known as Lavon Reservoir.
Quick Facts About Lavon Lake
Lavon Lake is a big body of water with some impressive numbers:
- Length: 9,540 feet (2,908 m)
- Maximum depth: 38 ft (about 11.6 meters)
- Surface area: 21,400 acres (87 km2) (that's over 86 square kilometers!)
- Shoreline length: 121 miles (195 km) (almost 195 kilometers of shoreline)
- Wildlife management area: 6,400 acres (a large area for animals and nature)
- Date impounded: September 14, 1953 (when the lake officially started holding water)
The United States government owns Lavon Lake. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers operates it. The North Texas Municipal Water District also has rights to some of its water.
Besides being a fun place for recreation and helping with flood control, Lavon Lake provides water for many people in North Texas. It is an important part of the North Texas Municipal Water District system.
How Lavon Lake Was Made
The Lavon Dam was built to create Lavon Lake. Construction started in 1948 and finished in 1953. The main reason for building the dam was to hold back the water from the East Fork of the Trinity River. This helped prevent floods in the rich farmland areas of northeastern Collin County. It also stored water for future use.
Building the lake also encouraged new homes and businesses to develop along its shores. People also started using the lake and nearby land for fun activities.
In 1962, the project was updated. This change allowed the lake to store even more water. This was important because the area needed more water as more people moved there. Recreation was also officially added as a purpose for the lake. This meant that managing the lake would focus on public use, fun activities, and taking care of the water and land.
Fish You Can Catch
Lavon Lake is a great spot for fishing! The most common types of fish you can find here are:
