However, no actions were taken until October 1, 1979 when the water district issued $342.75 million in revenue bonds for construction.

Bill Johnson and a team, from Buce and Gunn, provided the necessary topography and surveying, for the project.

Initially a demonstration project, this has proved successful and is moving into a larger 2,000-acre (8.1 km2) phase.

In the first decade, the lake was noted for largemouth bass tournaments, with typical stringers of 35 lbs.

The old Trinity River levee forms a crescent-shaped underwater structure between the confluence of the Richland and Chambers creek arms and the dam and is good for fishing.