Sam Rayburn Reservoir is operated by the United States Army Corps of Engineers, Fort Worth district.

The main purposes of the reservoir are flood control, hydroelectric power generation, and conservation of water.

In September of that year, the 88th Congress adopted a special resolution changing the name to "Sam Rayburn Dam and Reservoir" in honor of the recently deceased Speaker of the House Sam Rayburn, a long-time champion of soil and water conservation.

In 1955, Congress approved the funding for McGee Bend Dam and Reservoir, and construction began in 1957.

Lake Sam Rayburn can be crossed on Texas State Highway 147 and is a popular recreation destination, both for boating and fishing, with game fish species in the lake including largemouth bass, bluegill, and channel catfish.