Texas is often thought of as a giant desert, but only about 10% of the entire state is considered a desert. In fact, the state is littered with lakes. There are over 7,000 lakes found throughout Texas, making it a lot damper than you might have thought. To be fair, it’s mostly in the eastern and central parts of the state but nevertheless, there is plenty of water in the Lone Star State. Although there’s a lot to explore throughout the state, below we zoom in to discover the deepest lake in Harris County.
Barker Reservoir in Harris County, Texas
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The Barker Reservoir is the deepest lake in Harris County. It sits on the county’s west side and takes up space in two other counties, including Fort Bend and Waller. It spans a total of 126 square miles and is 102 feet deep. In 1945, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers finished the Barker Dam and today, they both own and operate the Barker Reservoir alongside its sister reservoir, Addicks Reservoir.
Why Was the Barker Reservoir Created?
The Barker Reservoir was part of a federal project to limit flooding. The intention was to protect those in the downtown portion of Houston and the Buffalo Bayou. The reservoir has two main streams that include Upper Buffalo Bayou and Mason Creek. It has a total of 69 miles of streams and 51 of those are found within Harris County lines.
Flooding in Harris County, Texas
Both Barker Reservoir and Addicks Reservoir performed well protecting downtown Houston for over 70 years. However, Hurricane Harvey was too much for them to handle. This hurricane arrived with a vengeance and flooded the immediate environment on either side of the dams. 25,000 houses and businesses flooded. Water levels reached so high so quickly that 37 people lost their lives within the county.
It became abundantly clear to both the Corps and its partner, the Harris County Flood Control District, that they needed to put a plan together to protect the people on either side of the dams from ever having to experience such a horrific tragedy again. The solution requires massive changes to the reservoir’s infrastructure. An underground tunnel where water could be funneled is a viable solution. However, the project is still about a decade away from even starting.
Wildlife in Harris County, Texas
Throughout Texas, you can find a rich wild animal population and it’s not too different in Harris County. Although wild animals deserve their space, there are some animals in the county that may carry rabies and should be avoided like the plague. Those animals include coyotes, foxes, raccoons, bats, and skunks. Other wildlife that you can spot throughout Harris County includes snakes and other reptiles, armadillos, opossums, squirrels, bobcats, deer, alligators, turtles, rodents, and hawks and owls.
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