Lake Pat Cleburne, body of water

Lake Pat Cleburne is a large reservoir in Texas built on the Nolan River, located about four miles southwest of the city of Cleburne. The earthfill dam stretches over a mile long, stands about 76 feet tall, and can hold approximately 26,000 acre-feet of water when the lake covers roughly 1,568 acres.

The project was approved in 1962 by the Texas Water Commission, with construction starting in August 1963 and finishing in summer 1964. Originally called Cleburne Reservoir, it was built to control flooding and supply water to the city of Cleburne, surrounding farms, and local industries.

The reservoir was first called the Cleburne Reservoir and was later renamed to reference Confederate general Patrick Cleburne. The lake is owned and operated by the City of Cleburne, and U.S. Highway 67 crosses its north end, so the name is read by drivers passing over the water.

U.S. Highway 67 crosses the north end of the lake, and the dam lies at the south end, where the Nolan River continues below it. Water clarity is normally murky or stained from sediment, so plan swimming and boating accordingly. Cleburne State Park is about 10 miles (16 km) away.

In 2023, catfish and crappie catches at Lake Pat Cleburne reached the highest rates on record, while bass and prey fish fell below their historical averages. The lake's aquatic plants are water willow, cattail, bulrush and buttonbush. U.S. Highway 67 crosses over the north end of the lake.