Lake Worth (Texas)

Infobox_lake
lake_name = Lake Worth
image_lake =
caption_lake =
image_bathymetry = |caption_bathymetry =
location = Texas
coords = coord|32|48|15|N|97|28|25|W|type:waterbody_region:US-TX|display=inline,title
type = artificial
inflow = Eagle Mountain Lake
outflow = Trinity River
catchment =
basin_countries = United States
length =
width =
area = 3,489 acres (14 km²)
depth = 6 ft (2 m)
max-depth = 22 ft (7 m)
volume =
residence_time =
shore =
elevation = 594 ft (181 m)
islands = Greer Island, Willow Island, Goat Island
cities = Fort Worth, Texas

Lake Worth is located on the West Fork of the Trinity River. It is entirely inside the Fort Worth, Texas city limits.

Lake Worth is a man-made lake in Texas. It was built in 1914 as a reservoir and for recreation. The lake is controlled by the City of Fort Worth Lake Worth Management Office. The lake has a moderate fluctuation with stained clarity. Submerged vegetation is sparse. There are shallow flats covered with cattails and other emergent species.

When first impounded, Lake Worth provided boating and recreation that drew people from throughout the North Texas area. Over the decades, the lake was neglected and fell out of favor. With the current growth of Fort Worth engulfing the Lake Worth area, the lake and its parks are finding new popularity with the growing community.

Since the early 1960s, many calls were made for dredging the lake and restoring its recreational potential. Unfortunately, city leaders were either unwilling or unable to fund the expensive proposition. The funding problems ended in the mid 2000's, when it became technologically feasible to access a large field of natural gas from under the lake. This area is part of a mineral formation known as the Barnett Shale.

A movement of Fort Worth citizens led by the Lake Worth Alliance, has pushed for retaining a portion of the gas revenue windfall at the Lake Worth area for renovating and developing its public recreational potential. The movement proposes to make capital improvements such as dredging Lake Worth, setting aside convert|400|acre|km2 of (non-park) city owned land as green space, building trails and other recreational infrastructure, and integrating the overall area into a "world-class" park such as the Central Park area in New York City.

[ [http://www.star-telegram.com/news/story/355346.html "Residents want Lake Worth to get parks", Star Telegram, December 12, 2007] ] [ [http://www.star-telegram.com/metro_news/story/382786.html "$117 million set aside for work on Lake Worth", Star Telegram, December 30, 2007] ]

Mythology

Lake Worth is considered the site of one of the best documented cryptozoology sitings. In July 1969, a large creature was sited by numerous people over several days. The creature was described as part goat, part fish, part man. The locals refer to the animal as the "Lake Worth monster" or "The Lake Worth Goatman".

ee also

*Lake Worth monster
*Barnett Shale

Videos

* [http://sb1.thefifthnetwork.com/VCMS/Player.aspx?id=cd619911-39cf-41ac-8462-ad0078a31011&UsePlayList=true&UserCompany=Star-Telegram&videoGUID=CEDE33C2-862C-4BBD-994A-BA68165158C7&channelId=ae6afc21-8e05-4950-b438-b001bacf6b3f, "Lake Worth: Polishing a Tarnished Jewel", Star Telegram Video - January 18, 2008]
* [http://sb1.thefifthnetwork.com/VCMS/Player.aspx?id=cd619911-39cf-41ac-8462-ad0078a31011&UsePlayList=true&UserCompany=Star-Telegram&videoGUID=FEBEC76A-BFC7-4A5D-B244-11460A0DBE94&channelId=ID0EXF "Saving Lake Worth", Star Telegram Video, January 6, 2008]
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M3HamXQIcNs December 11th 2007 Fort Worth Council Meeting to Dredge Lake Worth - Channel 11 News Reporting]
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kHr8hZsoht4 December 11, 2007 Fort Worth Council Meeting to Dredge Lake Worth - Channel 8 News Reporting]
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tMxtSzoM6N4 August 2007 Barnett Shale Revenue Committee Meeting to Dredge Lake Worth - Channel 11 News Reporting]

References

External links

* [http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/fishboat/fish/recreational/lakes/worth/ Texas Parks and Wildlife]
* [http://scenicshores.blogspot.com/2007/12/dredging-faqs.html Dredging Lake Worth FAQ's]
* [http://web.mac.com/josephwaller1/Lake_Worth_Alliance/Home.html Lake Worth Alliance]
*gnis|1350595|Lake Worth
*Handbook of Texas|id=LL/rol87|name=Lake Worth