Richland-Chambers Dam and Reservoir (Trinity River Basin)
Richland-Chambers Dam and Reservoir (formerly Richland Reservoir) are located approximately twenty miles southeast of Corsicana, on Chambers Creek and Richland Creek which is a tributary of the Trinity River. The reservoir, extending in Navarro County and Freestone County, is the third largest inland reservoir by surface area and the eighth largest reservoir by water volume to lie entirely within the state of Texas.
Richland-Chambers Reservoir is owned and operated by Tarrant Regional Water District for water supply, flood control, irrigation and recreation purposes. After a drought in 1950's, plans were made by the Tarrant Regional Water District to build the Richland-Chambers Reservoir which inundated Lake Corsicana. However, no actions were taken until October 1, 1979 when the water district issued $342.75 million in revenue bonds for construction. Dam construction began in October of 1982. Deliberate impoundment of water began on July 14, 1987. The reservoir was completed in November of 1987 and was filled-up by May 1989. On November 12, 1988 the Richland-Chambers Reservoir started to transport water to Lake Benbrook for water supply to Tarrant County area. At top of conservation pool elevation, 315 feet above mean sea level, the reservoir will store 1,112,763 acre feet water and create a 43,384 acres water surface. The dam controls a drainage area of approximately 1,957 square miles.