Possum Kingdom Lake
| Possum Kingdom Lake | |
|---|---|
Possum Kingdom Lake Possum Kingdom Lake | |
| Location | Palo Pinto / Stephens / Young counties, Texas |
| Coordinates | 32°52.00′N 98°26.00′W / 32.86667°N 98.43333°W |
| Type | reservoir |
| Primary inflows | Brazos River |
| Primary outflows | Brazos River |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Surface area | 19,800 acres (8,000 ha) |
| Max. depth | 100 ft (30 m) |
| Water volume | 724,700 acre⋅ft (893,900 ML) |
| Shore length1 | 310 miles (500 km) |
| Surface elevation | 998 ft (304 m) |
| 1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure. | |
Possum Kingdom Lake (popularly known as P.K.), is a reservoir on the Brazos River located primarily in Palo Pinto County Texas. It was the first water supply reservoir constructed in the Brazos River basin. The lake has an area of approximately 17,000 acres (6,900 ha) with 310 miles (500 km) of shoreline. It holds 750,000 acre-feet (930,000,000 m3) of water with 550,000 acre-feet (680,000,000 m3) available for water supply.
The lake is impounded by the Morris Sheppard Dam, which was a project of the Brazos River Authority and the Works Progress Administration. Construction was begun in 1936 and completed in 1941. The dam is 2,700 feet (820 m) long and 190 feet (58 m) high. The construction is unique with buttressed arched wings on either side of the nine spillway gates rather than the usual filled concrete. It has two 11,250 kilowatt generators which were used during peak demand periods that are no longer in use. It was named after United States senator Morris Sheppard for his efforts in obtaining funding for the project.
The lake is located where the Brazos River cuts through the Palo Pinto Mountains. The canyon thus formed provided a favorable site for impoundment of the reservoir and accounts for the unusual depth of the lake and the resulting clarity of the water.
The lake is home to the famous Hell's Gate, a sheer break in the cliffs around the lake. The lake's name was the title of a popular 1990s song "Possum Kingdom" by Toadies.
The lake is home to Possum Kingdom State Park, a 1,530-acre (620 ha) state park governed by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. Visitors, avid boaters, and anglers interested in exploring the lake can also utilize local marinas such as Bluff Creek Marina.