Aquilla Lake, body of water

Aquilla Lake is a reservoir in Hill County, Texas, formed by an earthfill dam 11,890 feet long with a 38-foot-wide crest, built by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. It lies about 23 miles north of Waco, directly north of the town of Aquilla, and serves water supply, flood control and recreation.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers closed the dam on March 20, 1982, and completed it in January 1983; deliberate impoundment began April 29, 1983. The earthfill dam, 11,890 feet long at its crest, was built for flood control in the Brazos River basin, water supply and recreation.

Aquilla Lake lies about 23 miles north of Waco, just north of the town of Aquilla in Hill County, reached via Farm Roads off Interstate 35. Boating, fishing, hunting and wildlife viewing are the main activities; anglers work tree lines, fencerows and creek channels for largemouth bass. Check the Corps of Engineers water-level and access notices before launching, since levels shift with rainfall.

The lake's water level fluctuates by several feet with rainfall and seasons, affecting fish habitat and the shoreline appearance. Submerged fish structures have been placed at specific locations to provide shelter for bass and other species, helping anglers locate productive fishing areas.