Lake Bastrop

infobox_lake
lake_name = Lake Bastrop
image_lake =
type = Power plant cooling reservoir
caption_lake =
location = Bastrop County, Texas
basin_countries = United States
coords = coord|30|9.31|N|97|17.51|W|type:waterbody_region:US-TX|display=inline,title
inflow = Spicer Creek
outflow = Spicer Creek
area = 906 acres (3.7 km²)
depth =
max-depth = 60 ft (18 m)
elevation = 450 ft (137 m)
volume = convert|16590|acre.ft|abbr=on|lk=on

Lake Bastrop is a reservoir on Spicer Creek in the Colorado River basin 3 miles (5 km) northeast of the town of Bastrop in central Bastrop County, Texas, USA. The reservoir was formed in 1964 by the construction of a dam by the Lower Colorado River Authority. The lake serves primarily as a power plant cooling pond for the Sim Gideon Power Plant operated by the LCRA and the Lost Pines Power Project 1, owned by GenTex Power Corporation, a wholly owned affiliate of the LCRA. Lake Bastrop also serves as a venue for outdoor recreation, including fishing, boating, swimming, camping and picnicking, and is maintained at a constant level year round.

Approximately one quarter of the shoreline of the Lake is privately owned by the Capitol Area Council, Boy Scouts of America. This property is used for the Lost Pines Scout Reservation, consisting of Camp Tom Wooten, for Cub Scouts and Camp Lost Pines, for Boy Scouts. The scouts leased the property from the LCRA starting in 1965, buying the land in the late 1990's.

Fish populations

Lake Bastrop has been stocked with species of fish intended to improve the utility of the reservoir for recreational fishing. Fish present in Lake Bastrop include catfish, crappie, perch, sunfish, carp, and largemouth bass.

Recreational uses

The Lower Colorado River Authority maintains two public parks on the lake, both of which provide camp sites for rent.

External links

* [http://www.lcra.org/community/southshore.html South Shore Park] - Lower Colorado River Authority
* [http://www.lcra.org/community/northshore.html North Shore Park] - Lower Colorado River Authority
* [http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/fishboat/fish/recreational/lakes/bastrop/ Lake Bastrop - Texas Parks & Wildlife]
* [http://www.tsha.utexas.edu/handbook/online/articles/LL/rol15.html Lake Bastrop] - Handbook of Texas Online
* [http://www.bsacac.org] - Capitol Area Council-Boy Scouts of America