Lake Texoma: North Texas–Oklahoma Border Waterway

Lake Texoma sits on the border between Texas and Oklahoma, formed by the impoundment of the Red River. The lake lies within Grayson and Cooke counties in Texas, and Bryan, Marshall, Johnston, and Love counties in Oklahoma. It holds the title of the largest reservoir by capacity in the Tulsa District of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and ranks among the largest of all USACE lakes nationwide. When the project was completed in 1944, it became a major regional resource.

The surface area of Lake Texoma is approximately 89,000 acres under normal pool conditions. Its flood-control capacity increases that area somewhat depending on water elevation. The lake draws from a drainage basin of nearly 39,700 square miles. As a multipurpose reservoir, it supports flood mitigation, water supply, power generation, and recreation.

Visitor use is substantial, with more than six million people visiting annually according to USACE estimates, making it one of the most-used federal recreation sites in the United States.

History and Infrastructure

Construction of the Denison Dam began after authorization in 1938. It was designed for flood control, hydropower, water conservation, and recreation. Work was completed in 1944, and the resulting reservoir was initially referred to as Denison Reservoir. The dam is an earth-fill rolled-embankment structure, and at the time of completion, it was among the largest of its kind in the nation.

The dam stretches over 15,000 feet in length and stands about 165 feet high. It impounds the Red River about five miles northwest of Denison, Texas, and fifteen miles southwest of Durant, Oklahoma. The project plays a vital role in reducing downstream flood risk, regulating river flows, generating hydropower, and storing water for municipal and industrial use across the region.

Recreation and Wildlife

Lake Texoma offers extensive opportunities for recreation. It features dozens of marinas and boat ramps, campgrounds, and parks on both the Texas and Oklahoma sides. The area also provides trails for hiking and horseback riding through scenic woodlands.

Fishing is one of the lake’s main attractions. It supports a self-sustaining population of striped bass, introduced in 1965 with natural reproduction confirmed by 1974. This makes Lake Texoma one of the few inland reservoirs in the United States where striped bass reproduce naturally. Other popular species include largemouth, smallmouth, and spotted bass, catfish, crappie, and white bass. Nearby protected areas such as the Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge in Texas and the Tishomingo National Wildlife Refuge in Oklahoma provide critical habitat for waterfowl, raptors, and other wildlife.

Water Supply, Size, and Environmental Factors

At roughly 89,000 acres of surface area under normal conditions, Lake Texoma is among the larger reservoirs in the country. Its shoreline length is most often reported at about 580 miles, though this figure varies depending on water level and measurement methods. The lake receives its inflow mainly from the Red River and the Washita River, along with several smaller tributaries.

The reservoir’s normal conservation pool elevation is around 615 to 619 feet above sea level, though it can rise during flood events. Water quality is influenced by the large watershed and the natural salt deposits within the surrounding geology, which contribute to elevated salinity levels in some areas.

Lake Texoma also serves as an important municipal and industrial water source for parts of North Texas and southern Oklahoma. Beyond its practical roles, it continues to support recreation, tourism, and wildlife management as one of the most significant water bodies in the region.