Construction on Twin Buttes Dam to form the reservoir was completed in 1963.

Water levels fell significantly during the 2010–13 Southern United States drought and remained low into 2014.

[3] Twin Buttes Reservoir was established to provide flood control, irrigation, water conservation, and a primary drinking water source for San Angelo and the surrounding communities in Tom Green County.

[2] The dam and reservoir are owned by the United States Bureau of Reclamation,[2] and are managed by the City of San Angelo.

Along the shoreline is dense saltceder and it grows thick with approximately 3,000 stems per acre.