Waco Lake, Reservoir in McLennan County, Texas.

Waco Lake is a reservoir in McLennan County that stretches across a wide area with varying depths throughout its basin. The waterway offers boating, fishing, and swimming access at multiple points around its perimeter with established facilities.

A dam was first built here in 1930 to control water flow and provide storage for the region. The original structure was replaced in 1965 with an improved design that has served the area since then.

The four parks surrounding this body of water serve as gathering places where locals picnic and walk along the shoreline. They also host educational displays about local wildlife and water safety for visitors.

The dam's concrete spillway sits mid-embankment, with stone-faced sections on both sides and a parapet along the crest. The lake lies west of Waco in McLennan County, fed by the North and South Bosque rivers. Water levels typically vary 2 to 6 feet, so check conditions before launching a boat.

In fall 2014, zebra mussels were found in the lake. The city, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Texas Parks and Wildlife laid tarps on the lake bottom before the spring spawning season to starve the mussels of oxygen.