USGS Water-Year Summary 2023

08095550 Waco Lake near Waco, TX

LOCATION - Lat 31°34'46", long 97°11'51" referenced to North American Datum of 1927, McLennan County, TX, Hydrologic Unit 12060203, in intake structure at Waco Dam on Bosque River, at northwest edge of city limits of Waco, and 4.6 mi upstream from mouth.

DRAINAGE AREA - 1,652 mi².

SURFACE-WATER RECORDS

PERIOD OF RECORD - Aug. 1964 to Sept. 2000 (Resevoir Contents furnished by U.S. Army Corps of Engineers), Oct. 2000 to Jan. 2004 (Daily Mean Resevoir Contents). Oct. 2002 to current year. Prior to Oct. 1970, published as "Waco Reservoir". PERIOD OF RECORD, Water-Quality.-- CHEMICAL DATA: May 1971 to Aug. 1980. BIOCHEMICAL DATA: May 1971 to Jan. 1973.

GAGE - Water-stage recorder. Datum of gage is NAVD of 1988. Satellite telemeter at station.

COOPERATION - Prior to Oct. 1, 2000, record of contents furnished by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and reviewed by the U.S. Geological Survey. A new capacity table, provided by the Texas Water Development Board, was put into use beginning Oct. 1, 1995.

REMARKS - Records good. The lake is formed by a rolled earthfill dam 24,618 ft long, including spillway. The lake was built for flood control and water conservation. From Oct. 1, 1964, to Feb. 26, 1965, the lake was operated as a detention basin only. On Feb. 26, 1965, old Lake Waco was breached and deliberate impoundment began. The spillway is controlled by fourteen 40.0-by 35.0-foot tainter gates. The outlet works consists of three gate-controlled outlets, 6.7 by 20.0 ft, opening into a 20.0-foot-diameter concrete conduit and two 54-inch concrete pipes. Low-flow releases are made through two 54-inch butterfly valves. Flow into two wet wells is controlled by four 5.0- by 6.0-foot slide gates. The dam is the property of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Data regarding the dam are given in the following table:

                                                                         Elevation (feet)
Top of dam............................................................          510.0
Design flood..........................................................          505.0
Top of gates..........................................................          500.0
Crest of spillway ....................................................          465.0
Top of conservation pool .............................................          462.0
Lowest controlled outlet (invert).....................................          400.0

Some records listed in the "Period of Record" for surface water and water quality may not be available electronically.

EXTREMES FOR PERIOD OF RECORD - Feb. 1965 to Sept. 2002: Maximum contents, 521,100 acre-ft, Dec. 24, 1991; minimum since normal operating level was reached, 86,300 acre-ft, Oct. 8, 1984; Feb. 1965 to current year: Maximum elevation, 488.48 ft, Dec. 24, 1991, minimum elevation, 445.10 ft, Oct. 8, 1984.

WATER-QUALITY RECORDS

PERIOD OF RECORD - CHEMICAL DATA: Jan. 1981 to Aug. 1982, Feb. 1998 to 2008. BIOCHEMICAL DATA: Jan. 1981 to Aug. 1982, Feb. 1998 to 2008. RADIOLOGICAL DATA: Jan. 1981 to May 1981. PESTICIDE DATA: July 1999 to 2008. SEDIMENT CHEMISTRY DATA: May 2003.

REMARKS - Beginning in the 2006 Water Year, water-quality data published with this site are now published as:

313148097140601 Waco Lk Site CC                                   
313338097130301 Waco Lk Site BC                                   
313430097113801 Waco Lk Site AC                                   
313511097122801 Waco Lk Site AL                                   
313534097142401 Waco Lk Site DC                                   
313608097164501 Waco Lk Site EC