Lake Corpus Christi
Encyclopedia
Lake Corpus Christi is a reservoir
in coastal southern Texas
. The lake was created in by the impounding of Wesley E. Seale Dam. The lake and the dam that creates it are managed by the City of Corpus Christi
. Lake Corpus Christi was originally known as Lake Lovenskiold. It is often referred to as Lake Mathis because of its location.
Lake Corpus Christi is 4 miles (6 km) west of the town of Mathis
and about 20 miles (32 km) northwest of the city of Corpus Christi. The surface of the lake extends into San Patricio, Live Oak, and Jim Wells
counties. The reservoir covers 18,256 acres (73.9 km²), and has a capacity of more than 269900 acre.ft.
Lake Corpus Christi provides drinking water for the city of Corpus Christi
. The reservoir also provides good fishing opportunities, especially for largemouth bass
and catfish
. Lake Corpus Christi State Recreation Area provides camping
and picnicking areas and two fishing
piers.
Lake Corpus Christi has been stocked with species of fish intended to improve the utility of the reservoir for recreational fishing. Fish present in Lake Corpus Christi include crappie, white bass, catfish, and largemouth bass, Lepomis|sunfish, bluegill and Alligator Gar. Plant life in the lake includes water stargrass, Pistia|water lettuce, water hyacinth , American pondweed, Ceratophyllum|coontail, Juncaceae|rushes, and Typha|cattail.
Reservoir
A reservoir , artificial lake or dam is used to store water.Reservoirs may be created in river valleys by the construction of a dam or may be built by excavation in the ground or by conventional construction techniques such as brickwork or cast concrete.The term reservoir may also be used to...
in coastal southern Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
. The lake was created in by the impounding of Wesley E. Seale Dam. The lake and the dam that creates it are managed by the City of Corpus Christi
Corpus Christi, Texas
Corpus Christi is a coastal city in the South Texas region of the U.S. state of Texas. The county seat of Nueces County, it also extends into Aransas, Kleberg, and San Patricio counties. The MSA population in 2008 was 416,376. The population was 305,215 at the 2010 census making it the...
. Lake Corpus Christi was originally known as Lake Lovenskiold. It is often referred to as Lake Mathis because of its location.
Lake Corpus Christi is 4 miles (6 km) west of the town of Mathis
Mathis, Texas
Mathis is a city in San Patricio County, Texas, United States. The population was 5,034 at the 2000 census.In 1887 when the San Antonio and Aransas Pass Railroad was laying tracks across San Patricio County, Thomas H. Mathis got naming rights when he donated for a townsite and school. Mathis could...
and about 20 miles (32 km) northwest of the city of Corpus Christi. The surface of the lake extends into San Patricio, Live Oak, and Jim Wells
Jim Wells County, Texas
At the 2000 census, there were 39,326 people, 12,961 households and 10,096 families residing in the county. The population density was 46 per square mile . There were 14,819 housing units at an average density of 17 per square mile...
counties. The reservoir covers 18,256 acres (73.9 km²), and has a capacity of more than 269900 acre.ft.
Lake Corpus Christi provides drinking water for the city of Corpus Christi
Corpus Christi, Texas
Corpus Christi is a coastal city in the South Texas region of the U.S. state of Texas. The county seat of Nueces County, it also extends into Aransas, Kleberg, and San Patricio counties. The MSA population in 2008 was 416,376. The population was 305,215 at the 2010 census making it the...
. The reservoir also provides good fishing opportunities, especially for largemouth bass
Largemouth 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...
and 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...
. Lake Corpus Christi State Recreation Area provides camping
Camping
Camping is an outdoor recreational activity. The participants leave urban areas, their home region, or civilization and enjoy nature while spending one or several nights outdoors, usually at a campsite. Camping may involve the use of a tent, caravan, motorhome, cabin, a primitive structure, or no...
and picnicking areas and two fishing
Fishing
Fishing is the activity of trying to catch wild fish. Fish are normally caught in the wild. Techniques for catching fish include hand gathering, spearing, netting, angling and trapping....
piers.
Lake Corpus Christi has been stocked with species of fish intended to improve the utility of the reservoir for recreational fishing. Fish present in Lake Corpus Christi include crappie, white bass, catfish, and largemouth bass, Lepomis|sunfish, bluegill and Alligator Gar. Plant life in the lake includes water stargrass, Pistia|water lettuce, water hyacinth , American pondweed, Ceratophyllum|coontail, Juncaceae|rushes, and Typha|cattail.
External links
- Lake Corpus Christi - Texas Parks & Wildlife Department
- Lake Corpus Christi - Handbook of Texas Online