Sam Rayburn Reservoir is a reservoir in the United States in Deep East Texas, 70 miles (110 km) north of Beaumont. The reservoir is fed by the Angelina River, the major tributary of the Neches River. The Reservoir is upstream of the Big Thicket National Preserve.
The reservoir's capacity is 3,997,600 acre-feet (4.9310×109 m3), and is the largest lake wholly within the state of Texas. It is the ninth largest reservoir in the United States. Sam Rayburn Reservoir is operated by the United States Army Corps of Engineers, Fort Worth district.
Construction began September 7, 1956, and the reservoir began serving its purpose on March 29, 1965. The main purposes of the reservoir are flood control, hydroelectric power generation, and conservation of water. Construction costs, including those for recreation facilities, were estimated at about $66 million.
It was known as McGee Bend Dam and Reservoir until 1963. In September of that year, the 88th Congress adopted a special resolution changing the name to "Sam Rayburn Dam and Reservoir" in honor of the recently deceased Speaker of the HouseSam Rayburn, a long-time champion of soil and water conservation. Dedication ceremonies were held on May 8, 1965.
In accordance with the 1945 federal Rivers and Harbors Act, four reservoirs were originally approved for the Neches and Angelina Rivers Basin. They were designated as Dam A, Dam B, Rockland, and McGee Bend. The first to be built was Dam B, completed on the Neches River in 1953. The name was changed to Town Bluff Dam and B. A. Steinhagen Reservoir, but locals still refer to it as Dam B. In 1955, Congress approved the funding for McGee Bend Dam and Reservoir, and construction began in 1957. Congress changed the name to Sam Rayburn Dam and Reservoir in 1963, and it was formally dedicated in 1965. The Dam A and Rockland dams, which were to be on the Neches River upstream from the convergence of the Neches and Angelina Rivers, were deemed to be unnecessary and listed as "deferred".
Lake Sam Rayburn can be crossed on Texas State Highway 147 and is a popular recreation destination, both for boating and fishing, with game fish species in the lake including largemouth bass, bluegill, and channel catfish. Due to the abundance of bass, it is home to more than 300 tournaments annually, which include tournaments such as the Bassmaster Elite Series and Opens, BASS Champs, BFL, Major League Fishing, Toyota Series, the Cabela's Texas Team Trail, Angler's Quest, Bass-n-Bucks, and McDonald's Big Bass Splash.[1] In 2018, Lake Sam Rayburn was ranked number one by Bassmaster magazine for being the best bass lake in the nation.[2]
Notable peopleEdit
The science-fiction and fantasy writer Ardath Mayhar lived near Sam Rayburn Lake, on a homestead bordering the Attoyac River above the lake. She wrote her tales there and also at a local bookstore she ran.[3]
rayburn, reservoir, reservoir, united, states, deep, east, texas, miles, north, beaumont, reservoir, angelina, river, major, tributary, neches, river, reservoir, upstream, thicket, national, preserve, show, texasshow, united, stateslocationangelina, nacogdoche. Sam Rayburn Reservoir is a reservoir in the United States in Deep East Texas 70 miles 110 km north of Beaumont The reservoir is fed by the Angelina River the major tributary of the Neches River The Reservoir is upstream of the Big Thicket National Preserve Sam Rayburn ReservoirSam Rayburn ReservoirShow map of TexasSam Rayburn ReservoirShow map of the United StatesLocationAngelina Nacogdoches San Augustine Jasper Sabine counties Southeast TexasCoordinates31 03 40 N 94 06 22 W 31 06111 N 94 10611 W 31 06111 94 10611TypereservoirPrimary inflowsAngelina RiverPrimary outflowsAngelina RiverCatchment area3 449 sq mi 8 930 km2 Basin countriesUnited StatesMax length36 43 miles 58 63 km Max width4 29 miles 6 90 km Surface area114 500 acres 463 km2 Max depth80 feet 24 m Water volume1 140 500 acre ft 1 4068 km3 Surface elevation164 ft 50 m Islandsnumerous islands and isletsThe reservoir s capacity is 3 997 600 acre feet 4 9310 109 m3 and is the largest lake wholly within the state of Texas It is the ninth largest reservoir in the United States Sam Rayburn Reservoir is operated by the United States Army Corps of Engineers Fort Worth district Contents 1 History 2 Notable people 3 References 4 Further reading 5 External linksHistory Edit nbsp Sam Rayburn ReservoirConstruction began September 7 1956 and the reservoir began serving its purpose on March 29 1965 The main purposes of the reservoir are flood control hydroelectric power generation and conservation of water Construction costs including those for recreation facilities were estimated at about 66 million It was known as McGee Bend Dam and Reservoir until 1963 In September of that year the 88th Congress adopted a special resolution changing the name to Sam Rayburn Dam and Reservoir in honor of the recently deceased Speaker of the House Sam Rayburn a long time champion of soil and water conservation Dedication ceremonies were held on May 8 1965 In accordance with the 1945 federal Rivers and Harbors Act four reservoirs were originally approved for the Neches and Angelina Rivers Basin They were designated as Dam A Dam B Rockland and McGee Bend The first to be built was Dam B completed on the Neches River in 1953 The name was changed to Town Bluff Dam and B A Steinhagen Reservoir but locals still refer to it as Dam B In 1955 Congress approved the funding for McGee Bend Dam and Reservoir and construction began in 1957 Congress changed the name to Sam Rayburn Dam and Reservoir in 1963 and it was formally dedicated in 1965 The Dam A and Rockland dams which were to be on the Neches River upstream from the convergence of the Neches and Angelina Rivers were deemed to be unnecessary and listed as deferred Lake Sam Rayburn can be crossed on Texas State Highway 147 and is a popular recreation destination both for boating and fishing with game fish species in the lake including largemouth bass bluegill and channel catfish Due to the abundance of bass it is home to more than 300 tournaments annually which include tournaments such as the Bassmaster Elite Series and Opens BASS Champs BFL Major League Fishing Toyota Series the Cabela s Texas Team Trail Angler s Quest Bass n Bucks and McDonald s Big Bass Splash 1 In 2018 Lake Sam Rayburn was ranked number one by Bassmaster magazine for being the best bass lake in the nation 2 Notable people EditThe science fiction and fantasy writer Ardath Mayhar lived near Sam Rayburn Lake on a homestead bordering the Attoyac River above the lake She wrote her tales there and also at a local bookstore she ran 3 References Edit U S Army Corps of Engineers Lake Information 2018 Bassmaster Best Lakes Deep Woods Lady Starlog issue 159 October 1990 a long interview with Ardath Mayhar Further reading EditU S Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System Sam Rayburn Reservoir U S Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System Sam Rayburn DamExternal links EditSam Rayburn Lake Home Page Sam Rayburn Reservoir from the Handbook of Texas Online Corps of Engineers Lake Sam Rayburn Home Page Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Sam Rayburn Reservoir amp oldid 1169379999, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
