This project is located on Lake Fork Creek, a major tributary of the Sabine River, about 5 miles west of Quitman, Texas. The reservoir, owned an operated by the Sabine River Authority , inundates land in Wood, Rains, and Hopkins Counties. Preliminary engineering studies for the Lake Fork Reservoir Project were initiated in November, 1972. Construction work on the project began in the fall of 1975. Final closure of the dam was made in February, 1980, and conservation pool level was reached in December, 1985. A total of 41,100 acres of land were acquired for the project. The  Reservoir has an estimated surface area of 27,690 acres at conservation pool elevation 403.0 feet above mean m.s.l. (mean sea level) and extends up Lake Fork Creek about 15 miles.

Dam and Spillway

The earthen dam consists of a rolled-earth fill about 12,410 feet long with a crown width of 20 feet at elevation 419.5 m.s.l. The upstream slope of the embankment is protected from erosion by two feet of soil-cement. The overall length of the service spillway structure is 250 feet. The flow of water over the concrete ogee wier is controlled by five 20 by 40 foot tainter gates. Also contained in the spillway structure are two 5 by 8 foot low-flow outlets and three metered water release pipes. The design discharge of the spillway is 81,900 cubic feet per second.