Joe Pool Lake
Encyclopedia
Fresh Water
Fresh Water is the debut album by Australian rock and blues singer Alison McCallum, released in 1972. Rare for an Australian artist at the time, it came in a gatefold sleeve...
impoundment located in the southern part of the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex
Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex
The Dallas–Fort Worth–Arlington Metropolitan Statistical Area, a title designated by the U.S. Census as of 2003, encompasses 12 counties within the U.S. state of Texas. The area is divided into two metropolitan divisions: Dallas–Plano–Irving and Fort Worth–Arlington. Residents of the area...
in North
North Texas
North Texas is a distinct cultural and geographic area forming the central-northeastern section of the U.S. state of Texas. North Texas is generally considered to include the area south of Oklahoma, east of Abilene, and north of Waco...
Texas (USA). The lake encompasses parts of Tarrant
Tarrant County, Texas
Tarrant County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2010 U.S. Census, it had a population of 1,809,034. Its county seat is Fort Worth. Tarrant County is the sixteenth most populous county in the United States and the third most populous in Texas. The county is named in honor...
, Dallas
Dallas County, Texas
As of the census of 2000, there were 2,218,899 people, 807,621 households, and 533,837 families residing in the county. The population density was 2,523 people per square mile . There were 854,119 housing units at an average density of 971/sq mi...
and Ellis
Ellis County, Texas
As of the census of 2000, there were 111,360 people, 37,020 households, and 29,653 families residing in the county. The population density was 118 people per square mile . There were 39,071 housing units at an average density of 42 per square mile...
counties. The lake measures 7740 acres (31.3 km²) with a conservation storage capacity of 176900 acre.ft. With a maximum depth of 75 feet (23 m) the lake drains an area of 232 square miles (601 km²).
Joe Pool Lake was named after Joe Pool, a congressman
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
from the Oak Cliff
Oak Cliff
Oak Cliff is a community in Dallas, Texas, United States that was formerly a separate town located in Dallas County; Dallas annexed Oak Cliff in 1903...
area of Dallas
Dallas, Texas
Dallas is the third-largest city in Texas and the ninth-largest in the United States. The Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex is the largest metropolitan area in the South and fourth-largest metropolitan area in the United States...
who represented this district from 1963 until his death in 1968. Pool was highly influential in passage of legislation and funding of the lake.
Beginnings
The project to build Joe Pool Lake started of a promise made in 1961 by the late U.S. Rep. Joe Pool and was carried out by a citizens committee called the Lakeview Planning Council. The oft-stalled lake project – approved by Congress in 1965 and known as Lakeview Lake until 1982 – had been the subject of name squabbles and delays caused by lawsuits and lack of funding.As a result, when construction began in 1977 – nine years after Joe Pool died – it became one of the first projects in the nation to pay its own way because of federal cuts in recreational park projects.
Construction of the lake dam
Dam
A dam is a barrier that impounds water or underground streams. Dams generally serve the primary purpose of retaining water, while other structures such as floodgates or levees are used to manage or prevent water flow into specific land regions. Hydropower and pumped-storage hydroelectricity are...
was completed in December 1985. Impoundment of water began in January 1986 and the lake was filled by June 1989.
Parks and recreation
Joe Pool Lake includes a number of parks, paved boat ramps and parking lots, public swimming areas, a public marina as well a second marina locatedLocation (geography)
The terms location and place in geography are used to identify a point or an area on the Earth's surface or elsewhere. The term 'location' generally implies a higher degree of can certainty than "place" which often has an ambiguous boundary relying more on human/social attributes of place identity...
inside Cedar Hill State Park
Cedar Hill State Park
Cedar Hill State Park is located on FM 1382 and the eastern shore of Joe Pool Lake in Cedar Hill, Texas , ten miles southwest of Dallas. The park was acquired in 1982 and was opened in 1991...
.
Britton Park
- Fees:
$5 per day vehicle
- Hours:
6 a.m. - 10 p.m.
March - October 28
Closed - October 29 through February 25
Open - weekends in October
- Amenities:
Boat ramp
Parking lot
Restroom
Loyd Park
- Location:
3401 Ragland Road
Grand Prairie
Grand Prairie, Texas
Grand Prairie is a city in Dallas, Ellis, and Tarrant counties in the U.S. state of Texas and is a part of the Mid-Cities region in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex. Grand Prairie is a suburb of both Dallas and Fort Worth and had a population of 175,396 at the 2010 census.- History :The city of...
, Texas 75052
Phone: +1 817 467 2104
Fax: +1 817 467 4931
- Fees:
$10 per vehicle up to six people
$12 Campsites per night (campsites limited to 2 vehicles, 8 people)
$100/night One bedroom cabin
$125/night Two bedroom cabin
- Hours:
24/7/365
- Amenities:
791 acres (3.2 km²) park offers campers of all types a tranquil, natural tree-filled setting.
Boat Ramp
Hiking Trails
Restrooms
Overnight Campgrounds
Picnic Areas
Cabins
Lynn Creek Park
- Location:
Lake Ridge Parkway just north of Lynn Creek Marina on Joe Pool Lake.
- Fees:
$10 per vehicle daily fee Call +1 817 467 2104 for reservations
Residents of Grand Prairie get in free (a valid Texas Driver's License with a Grand Prairie address is required).
- Hours:
6 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily March through October
- Amenities:
784 acres (3.2 km²)
restrooms, showers, two boat ramps with eight lanes, a swimming beach, and a concession stand.
almost 100 picnic sites, group picnic pavilions, sand volleyball courts and an amphitheater.
Cedar Hill State Park
- Location:
1570 F.M. 1382
Cedar Hill
Cedar Hill, Texas
Cedar Hill is a city in Dallas and Ellis Counties in the U.S. state of Texas. It is located approximately sixteen miles southwest of downtown Dallas and is situated along the eastern shore of Joe Pool Lake and Cedar Hill State Park. The population was 32,093 at the 2000 census...
, Texas 75104
+1 972 291 3900
- Fees:
Adult: $5.00 per person
Children 12 & Under: Free
Campsites:
Regular (Developed): $20.00 per night
Primitive: $7.00 per night
- Hours:
24/7/356
- Amenities:
784 acres (3.17 km²)
- Camping:
Features 355 mostly wooded campsites with a shade shelter over some of the picnic tables.
Mountain Biking, Bird Watching, Picknicking, Joe Pool Marina, Fishing.
Lynn Creek Marina
A marina and restaurant located on the north side of the lake, just off Lake Ridge Parkway near the Lynn Creek Park entrance. The Lynn Creek Marina has more than 500 wet slips for fishing, pleasure and sail boats.The marina does a brisk business in boat rentals and has an indoor-outdoor fishing area where non-boaters can fish for $5 for 12 hours ($3 for children and seniors).
Next door to the marina, the popular Oasis restaurant features open air dining and live weekend entertainment over the lake's waters.
Tangle Ridge Golf Course
One of the state's top public championship courses, Tangle Ridge Golf Club was designed by Jeff Brauer of GolfScapes in Arlington, Texas. It was recently ranked as the "12th best golf course" in the state of Texas by Golf Digest.The layout has the feel of the Texas Hill Country with dramatic elevation changes, gently rolling hills and sand bunkers guarding every hole.
Tangle Ridge caters to every level of player with each hole varying in length, bunkering and style - offering a new direction, a new choice, a new experience every time you play.
Visit the Tangle Ridge Golf Website complete course information, rates, classes, etc.
Water Resources
Joe Pool lake is mostly fed by Mountain Creek and Walnut Creek and drains north into Mountain Creek leading into Mountain Creek LakeMountain Creek Lake
Mountain Creek Lake is a reservoir located southwest of downtown Dallas, Texas in the Mountain Creek area of the city. It is located south of SH 180, west of Spur 408, north of I-20, and east of FM 1382. The defunct Naval Air Station Dallas is located on the northwestern shore of the lake...
. Joe Pool Lake is one of the few lakes in Texas that actually drains to the north. Joe Pool lake impounds water in two arms formed by Mountain Creek and Walnut Creek. The Mountain Creek Water Shed is in the Upper Trinity River Basin
Trinity River (Texas)
The Trinity River is a long river that flows entirely within the U.S. state of Texas. It rises in extreme north Texas, a few miles south of the Red River. The headwaters are separated by the high bluffs on the south side of the Red River....
and has a length of 37 miles (60 km) and a total drainage area of 304 square miles (787 km²).
Currently (2005) Joe Pool Lake serves as a reservoir for the City of Midlothian
Midlothian, Texas
Midlothian is a city in northwest Ellis County, Texas, United States. It is the hub for the cement industry in North Texas as it is the home to three separate cement production facilities, as well as a steel mill. Midlothian is also a fast growing community with a growth rate of 142% since 2000...
for their public water supply. Several other entities have water interests in Joe Pool Lake, but are not currently using the water resources. The City of Midlothian has a water intake structure in the southeast leg of the lake. They consume water at a daily rate anywhere from 1 million USgals (3,785.4 m³) in the winter months to 9 million USgals (34,068.7 m³) in the summer months. The Trinity River Authority of Texas also has a water intake structure in Cedar Hill State Park, but it currently not in use.
Fishing Regulations
Most species are currently managed with statewide regulations. The exception is a 14 to 21 inches (533.4 mm) slot limit on largemouth bass. Anglers may keep bass that are 14 inches (355.6 mm) or less in length, or 21 inches (533.4 mm) or greater. Daily bag for all species of black bass is 5 in combination, but only one largemouth bass 21 inches (533.4 mm) or greater may be retained each day.Stocking history
| Species | Year | Number stocked | Size |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bass, Florida Largemouth | Fingerling | ||
| Bass, Florida Largemouth | Fingerling | ||
| Bass, Florida Largemouth | Fingerling | ||
| Bass, Florida Largemouth | Fingerling | ||
| Bass, Florida Largemouth | Fingerling | ||
| Bass, Florida Largemouth | Fry | ||
| Bass, Florida Largemouth | Fingerling | ||
| Bass, Florida Largemouth | Fry | ||
| Bluegill, Coppernose | |||
| Bluegill, Coppernose | |||
| Bluegill, Coppernose | |||
| Catfish, Channel | Fingerling | ||
| Catfish, Channel | Fry | ||
| Shad, Threadfin |
Comments:
Joe Pool lake opened with tremendous fishing pressure owing to the fact it lies within 30 miles (48 km) of four million people. Restrictive limits were put in place to protect the fish from overharvest and fishing has remained good to this point.
All-ages records
| Species | Weight | Length | Date | Angler | Bait or lure |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bass, Largemouth | 12.89 lb (5.8 kg) | 24 in (609.6 mm) | March 5, 2006 | Robert Gaston | |
| Bass, White | 1.94 lb (0.8799691978 kg) | 17 in (431.8 mm) | June 18, 2005 | David Hartnett | |
| Bluegill | 0.38 lb (0.1723651006 kg) | 8.25 in (209.6 mm) | September 8, 2005 | Chad Edwards | freelined corn |
| Bullhead, Yellow | 1.57 lb (0.7121400209 kg) | 15.25 in (387.4 mm) | April 2, 2006 | Alissa Lewis | worm |
| Carp, Common | 12.02 lb (5.5 kg) | 32 in (812.8 mm) | January 26, 2005 | Chad Edwards | freelined bread |
| Carp, Grass | 32 lb (14.5 kg) | 40 in (1,016 mm) | June 5, 1997 | Alex Alatorre | homemade dough bait |
| Catfish, Channel | 10.89 lb (4.9 kg) | 28 in (711.2 mm) | November 18, 2006 | Trace Neatherlin | cut bait |
| Crappie, Black | 2.03 lb (0.9207925111 kg) | 15 in (381 mm) | May 2, 2004 | Scott Pekrul | splittail spinner |
| Crappie, White | 2.59 lb (1.2 kg) | 16.75 in (425.5 mm) | June 30, 1990 | George T. Hearn | |
| Drum, Freshwater | 2.1 lb (0.952543977 kg) | 14.5 in (368.3 mm) | September 6, 2004 | Germain Gardea | shiner |
| Sunfish, Green | 0.65 lb (0.2948350405 kg) | 10 in (254 mm) | May 12, 1990 | Richard Collins | |
| Sunfish, Longear | 0.06 lb (0.0272155422 kg) | 4.81 in (122.2 mm) | September 10, 1995 | Jay Largent |
| Species | Weight | Length | Date | Angler | Bait or Lure |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bass, White | 0.72 | 12.50 | July 26, 2005 | Howell Dodd | clouser |
| Sunfish, Green | 0.42 | 8.31 | July 3, 2003 | Jody Moore | popping bug |
| Species | Weight | Length | Date | Angler | Bait or Lure |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buffalo, Smallmouth | 16.30 | 27.50 | December 26, 2005 | Bennett Crow | |
| Carp, Common | 21.13 | 34.25 | December 10, 2006 | Bennett Crow |
Junior angler records
| Species | Weight | Length | Date | Angler | Bait or Lure |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bullhead, Yellow | 1.57 | 15.25 | April 2, 2006 | Alissa Lewis | worm |
| Carp, Common | 6.06 | 0.00 | May 13, 2006 | Trey Edwards III | boiled maize |
| Catfish, Channel | 7.15 | 25.75 | August 5, 2005 | Alissa Lewis | worm |
Fishing tips
Marked brush piles offer habitat in the lower end of the reservoir which are often good for both bass and crappie. Crappie fishing is also good under the bridges on both arms of the lake. In the Walnut Creek arm, the old creek channel is a good place to look for bass.Fishing quality
Largemouth bassLargemouth bass
The largemouth bass is a species of black bass in the sunfish family native to North America . It is also known as widemouth bass, bigmouth, black bass, bucketmouth, Potter's fish, Florida bass, Florida largemouth, green bass, green trout, linesides, Oswego bass, southern largemouth...
: 3 of 5
Catfish
Catfish
Catfishes are a diverse group of ray-finned fish. Named for their prominent barbels, which resemble a cat's whiskers, catfish range in size and behavior from the heaviest and longest, the Mekong giant catfish from Southeast Asia and the second longest, the wels catfish of Eurasia, to detritivores...
: 2 of 5
Crappie
Crappie
Crappie is a genus of freshwater fish in the sunfish family of order Perciformes. The type species is P. annularis, the white crappie...
: 3 of 5
Sunfish
Centrarchidae
The sunfishes are a family of freshwater ray-finned fish belonging to the order Perciformes. The type genus is Centrarchus . The family's 27 species includes many fishes familiar to North Americans, including the rock bass, largemouth bass, bluegill, pumpkinseed, and crappies...
: 2 of 5
Facilities
The TRA maintains excellent day use and overnight public recreation facilities. The only free boat ramp on the lake is at Britton Park on the upper end of the Mountain Creek Arm, although it is $5 to park. Cedar Hill State Park (214/291-3900) on the east side of the lake has the second most campsites of any facility in the state park system. It also has lighted fishing piers, boat ramps and group shelters. Local anglers complain that state park gates do not open until 8 a.m. daily.Fishing reports
Fishing reports for Joe Pool lake can be found at the Texas Parks and Wildlife website here:Joe Pool Lake Archaeological Project
Several archaeological investigations have been carried out in the Joe Pool Lake project area since 1977. The first phase of study, conducted between 1977 and 1979, identified 42 archaeological and historical sites in the vicinity of the then proposed Lakeview Lake, since renamed Joe Pool. The study was conducted by archaeologists from Southern Methodist UniversitySouthern Methodist University
Southern Methodist University is a private university in Dallas, Texas, United States. Founded in 1911 by the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, SMU operates campuses in Dallas, Plano, and Taos, New Mexico. SMU is owned by the South Central Jurisdiction of the United Methodist Church...
and was funded by the federal government through the United States Army Corps of Engineers
United States Army Corps of Engineers
The United States Army Corps of Engineers is a federal agency and a major Army command made up of some 38,000 civilian and military personnel, making it the world's largest public engineering, design and construction management agency...
, Fort Worth District. Archaeological properties identified at that time included small, briefly occupied camps of prehistoric hunter/gatherers, several larger reoccupied prehistoric camps, a small prehistoric village, an ante-bellum plantation, several large post-Civil War farmsteads, and a number of late nineteenth century farmsteads with standing buildings.
From these investigations, we have gained a few more insights into the history and prehistory of the Mountain Creek area. Excavations of historic farmsteads have indicated that many mid- and late nineteenth century families lived in well constructed, frame dwellings. Log buildings were not as common as once believed. Both Dallas and Fort Worth
Fort Worth, Texas
Fort Worth is the 16th-largest city in the United States of America and the fifth-largest city in the state of Texas. Located in North Central Texas, just southeast of the Texas Panhandle, the city is a cultural gateway into the American West and covers nearly in Tarrant, Parker, Denton, and...
attracted sawmill
Sawmill
A sawmill is a facility where logs are cut into boards.-Sawmill process:A sawmill's basic operation is much like those of hundreds of years ago; a log enters on one end and dimensional lumber exits on the other end....
s along the Trinity River bottomlands and sawn lumber was available to most families by the 1850s.
The artifacts recovered from excavations of the yard areas around dwellings have also provided us with some insights into family life and household possessions. Home canning
Canning
Canning is a method of preserving food in which the food contents are processed and sealed in an airtight container. Canning provides a typical shelf life ranging from one to five years, although under specific circumstances a freeze-dried canned product, such as canned, dried lentils, can last as...
using the glass fruit jar indicates a break from older traditional foodways by the turn-of-the-century (i.e., 1900). Animal bones indicate a strong reliance on beef rather than on the more traditional pork. Both of these pieces of evidence support the dominance of a Midwestern orientation of foodways that diverges from most Texas counties to the south. The plain white ceramic tablewares and the low consumption of bottle glass for the same period, on the other hand, both correspond more closely with Southern traditions. One message is clear from these studies. Both human adaptations (culture and technology) and the natural environment have changed tremendously over the last 12,000 years. From the evidence of the earliest sites found that were occupied some 6,000 years ago, up to the first American settlers about 140 years ago, the Mountain Creek area has been affected by nature's relentless fluctuations. The archaeological investigations sponsored by the United States Army Corps of Engineers at Joe Pool have provided a few brief glimpses into the rich record of human history and prehistory of this area. Time's march never ceases and in another thousand years, future generations may be equally interested in our own society and its archaeological remains.
For more information and to view the entire investigation please see http://www.smu.edu/anthro/collections/JPLpre.html.