The Engineering & Public Works Roadshow stopped at the North Texas Municipal Water District (NTMWD) Wylie Campus April 16 to recognize the success of the Bois d’Arc Lake Project.

Bois d’Arc Lake is the first reservoir built in Texas in the last three decades. Designed to provide raw water to one of the fastest-growing regions in the United States, the lake also provides recreation opportunities like boating and trophy bass fishing.

The $1.6 billion project was financed through the Texas Water Development Board’s State Water Implementation Fund for Texas program, saving NTMWD and its cities over $230 million. 

Kristina Ramirez, PE, American Public Works Association Region VII Director, remarked that the value of the reservoir extends beyond the surface. Describing the project as being “in league of its own,” Ramirez talked about the importance of the behind-the-scenes efforts that make projects like the lake possible.

“Like public works, you don’t see it, but this lake water supply system could not be what it is today without the technology, infrastructure, and people you don’t see,” Ramirez said. “While visitors and fishermen see the new dam and 16,600-acre reservoir, it’s the construction, operation and maintenance of the treatment plant and transmission systems, two pump stations, 60 miles of pipelines, and 17,000 acres of forest, grassland, and stream mitigation that catch my eye and reaffirm the importance of public works within our communities.”

During her remarks, NTMWD Executive Director Jenna Covington, PE, explained the impact of the project on both the District and the communities around the lake.

“Bois d’Arc Lake isn’t just a vital source of water for our service area—it means so much more to our local communities,” Covington said. “It’s quickly become a recreational destination for anglers from around Texas and beyond. It will continue to serve as an economic catalyst for Fannin County. The lake is proof that strong local and state partnerships can ensure that large water projects have benefits that extend beyond increased water supplies.”

She went on to talk about the monumental effort behind bringing the lake from a plan to a vital water source.

“In the case of Bois d’Arc Lake, it took more than 1,500 talented people to make the infrastructure come to life,” Covington said. “From engineering to support services to construction, the team working to deliver Bois d’Arc Lake was directly responsible for ensuring a continued, reliable water supply for residents in more than 70 communities across Texas.”

The Engineering & Public Works Roadshow is a collaboration between the American Council of Engineering Companies, the American Public Works Association, and the American Society of Civil Engineers.