New Fannin County Lake Begins to Fill

The North Texas Municipal Water District (NTMWD) started filling Texas’ first major reservoir in nearly 30 years to serve the water supply needs of the region. NTMWD recently began impounding, or capturing, water on the 16,641-acre Bois d’Arc Lake north of Honey Grove. Rainfall totals in the Bois d’Arc Lake watershed will determine how long it will take the lake to fill and when it will be ready for recreation. The entire lake does not need to fill before NTMWD begins to use the reservoir as a source of drinking water. Based on historical weather patterns, NTMWD expects the reservoir to contain enough water to begin treatment and dispersal of water to its member cities and customers in 2022. Impoundment began when workers closed the lower gates at the raw water intake structure, cutting off the flow of water through the structure and allowing the reservoir to hold water. The 110-foot-tall structure sits inside the lake footprint and removes water from the reservoir for treatment. The remaining gates at the intake structure will stay open until the lake fills to a higher level. NTMWD will release water from the lake as required by its permit in order to keep water flowing downstream in Bois d’Arc Creek. The projected cost for Bois d’Arc Lake is approximately $1.6 billion. Forecasts claim the lake will meet the water needs and demands for a growing region of 1.8 million people until 2040.