Lake Walter E. Long (also known as Decker Lake)[1] is a reservoir on Decker Creek in Austin, Texas. It was officially impounded in 1967 and provides cooling water for a power plant that produces electricity from petroleum-based fuels. The dam and the lake are managed by the City of Austin. Surrounding the lake is the city's Lake Walter E. Long Metropolitan Park, a popular recreational destination.
| Lake Walter E. Long | |
|---|---|
 U.S. soldiers and various state personnel conducting airborne and water rescue drills in 2012 | |
  Lake Walter E. Long  Lake Walter E. Long | |
| Location | Austin, Texas |
| Coordinates | 30°17.11′N 97°35.77′W / 30.28517°N 97.59617°W |
| Type | Power plant cooling reservoir |
| Primary inflows | Decker Creek |
| Primary outflows | Decker Creek |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Managing agency | City of Austin |
| Built | 1967 |
| Surface area | 1,269 acres (514 ha)[1] |
| Max. depth | 60 ft (18 m) |
| Surface elevation | 555 ft (169 m) |
Flora and fauna
editLake Walter E. Long has been stocked with species of fish intended to improve the utility of the reservoir for recreational fishing. Fish present in Lake Walter E. Long include catfish, largemouth bass, hybrid striped bass, and sunfish. Plant species present in the lake water include hydrilla, pondweed, bulrush, waterstar grass, American lotus, coontail, and southern naiad.
Recreational uses
editLake Walter E. Long Metropolitan Park is open for daytime recreational use. Boating and fishing are the most popular recreational uses of the lake.
References
edit- ^ a b "Walter E. Long Lake". Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. Retrieved 11 May 2015.
External links
edit- City of Austin Map of lake and surrounding roads
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