Lake Bridgeport

Lake Bridgeport, formerly known as Bridgeport Reservoir, is on the West Fork of the Trinity River in the Trinity River basin five miles west of Bridgeport in western Wise County (at 33°13' N, 97°52' W). The project is owned and operated by the Tarrant County Water Control and Improvement District Number 1. Lake Bridgeport was built for the proposed Trinity River canalization plan and was completed in December 1931 at an estimated cost of $2 million. In conjunction with Eagle Mountain Lake and Lake Worth, Lake Bridgeport controls the floodwaters of the West Fork of the Trinity River. The lake is 1,850 feet long and was designed primarily for flood control, water storage, and recreation. The crest of the spillway is 826.2 feet above mean sea level. The lake has a conservation storage capacity of 270,900 acre-feet and covers a surface area of 10,400 acres. The drainage area above the dam is 1,111 square miles. Water stored in the lake is used for municipal, industrial, and agricultural purposes. Construction of the dam helped prevent seasonal flooding of rich farmland in western Wise County and stimulated land development along the lakeshores, including the communities of Lakevue Estates, Lake Bridgeport, and Runaway Bay. Marinas, excellent fishing, and lakeside parks have transformed nearby Bridgeport into a prosperous commercial and resort community. The terrain surrounding the lake is characterized by resistant ledges and low cuestas with shallow, stony soils. Vegetation consists primarily of live oak, juniper, and grasses.

Adapted from the official Handbook of Texas, a state encyclopedia developed by the Texas State Historical Association (TSHA). It is an authoritative source of trusted historical records.