Smithers Lake facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Smithers Lake |
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Smithers Lake with the WA Parish Generating Station in the background
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 Smithers Lake
Location in Texas
Smithers Lake
Location in the United States
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| Location | Fort Bend County, Texas |
| Coordinates | 29°29′21″N 95°38′53″W / 29.48917°N 95.64806°W |
| Surface area | 2,140 acres (8.7 km2) |
| Water volume | 18,000 acres (73 km2) |
| Surface elevation | 66 feet (20 meters) |
Smithers Lake is a lake found in Fort Bend County, Texas. It is about 10 miles (16 km) southeast of Richmond, and it's close to the Brazos River. This lake is important because it helps cool a big power plant nearby.
What is Smithers Lake Used For?
Smithers Lake is a special kind of lake called a "cooling pond." It was built to provide water for a large power plant called the WA Parish Generating Station. This plant uses the lake's water to cool down its machinery, which is a key part of making electricity.
Who Owns and Operates the Lake?
Today, the lake and the power plant are owned and run by a company called NRG Energy. Before that, it was owned by another company, the Houston Lighting and Power Company.
When Was Smithers Lake Built?
The construction of Smithers Lake began on August 22, 1956. It was finished less than a year later, on July 1, 1957. Water started filling the new lake on October 15, 1957.
