{{Use American English|date=July 2025}} {{Infobox body of water | name = Lake Alan Henry | image =File:Lake_Alan_Henry.jpg | caption = | image_bathymetry = | caption_bathymetry = | location = Garza County, Texas, United States | coords = {{Coord|33|03|33.0|N|101|03|09.8|W|type:waterbody_region:US-TX|display=inline,title}} | type = Reservoir | inflow = Double Mountain Fork Brazos River | outflow = | catchment = | basin_countries = United States | length = | width = | area = {{Convert|2880|acre|abbr=on}} | depth = {{Convert|40|ft|abbr=on}}<ref>{{ cite web|publisher=Texas Water Development Board |title=Lake Alan Henry |url=https://www.waterdatafortexas.org/reservoirs/individual/alan-henry |accessdate=14 Aug 2023}}</ref> | max-depth = {{Convert|100|ft|abbr=on}} | volume = {{Convert|96207|acre.ft|km3|abbr=on|lk=in}} | residence_time = | shore = | elevation = {{Convert|2220|ft|abbr=on}} | islands = | cities =
<!-- Map --> | pushpin_map = Texas#USA | pushpin_label_position = | pushpin_map_alt = Location of Lake Alan Henry in Texas, USA. | pushpin_map_caption = <!-- Below --> | website = | reference = }} '''Lake Alan Henry''' is a reservoir situated in the upper Brazos River Basin in the United States. Created by the construction of the John T. Montford Dam in 1993, it is operated and used as a future tertiary water supply by the city of Lubbock, Texas and serves as a recreational spot for the region of West Texas.<ref name="Alan Henry">{{cite web |publisher=City of Lubbock |title=Lake Alan Henry: History and Purpose |url=http://www.mylubbock.us/departmental-websites/departments/lake-alan-henry/about-us/history-and-purpose |accessdate=31 July 2014 |archive-date=8 August 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140808052638/http://www.mylubbock.us/departmental-websites/departments/lake-alan-henry/about-us/history-and-purpose |url-status=dead }}</ref> The surface area of the lake is {{convert|2880|acre|abbr=on}} with a mean depth of {{convert|40|ft|abbr=on}}. Lake Alan Henry is located {{convert|4|miles|abbr=on}} east of Justiceburg, Texas, and {{convert|45|miles|abbr=on}} south of Lubbock.<ref name="TX PW">{{cite web |publisher=Texas Parks and Wildlife |title=Alan Henry Reservoir |url= http://www.tpwd.texas.gov/fishboat/fish/recreational/lakes/alan_henry/|accessdate=31 July 2014}}</ref>
== Geography == Lake Alan Henry is located on the Double Mountain Fork Brazos River in West Texas. South of Lubbock and east of Justiceburg, the lake extends {{convert|11|miles|abbr=on}} and has over {{convert|56|miles|abbr=on}} of shoreline.<ref name="Recreation">{{cite web |publisher=Visit Lubbock |title=Lake Alan Henry - Recreation |url=http://www.visitlubbock.org/business/Recreation//245 |accessdate=31 July 2014 |archive-date=8 August 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140808052300/http://www.visitlubbock.org/business/Recreation//245 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Its elevation is {{convert|1000|ft|abbr=on}} lower than the city of Lubbock.<ref name="Future">{{cite web |publisher=City of Lubbock |title=Lake Alan Henry: Construction & Future Development |url=http://www.mylubbock.us/departmental-websites/departments/lake-alan-henry/about-us/future |accessdate=31 July 2014 |archive-date=8 August 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140808052635/http://www.mylubbock.us/departmental-websites/departments/lake-alan-henry/about-us/future |url-status=dead }}</ref> Lake Alan Henry has a maximum depth of {{convert|100|ft|abbr=on}} with an average depth of {{convert|40|ft|abbr=on}}, and the water is typically murky-to-clear with a visibility depth of one to four feet. Lake water levels fluctuate moderately between two and four feet per year. Vegetation of the lake mainly consists of flooded trees.<ref name="TX PW"/>
Operating at full capacity, Lake Alan Henry could potentially contain over 40 billion gallons of water.<ref name="Future"/>
===Fish populations=== Lake Alan Henry has been stocked with several different populations of fish in order to encourage recreational and fishing activities. Stocking of the lake began in 1993 with adult shads and gizzards.<ref>{{cite web |publisher=Texas Parks and Wildlife |title=Stocking History for Alan Henry |url= http://www.tpwd.texas.gov/fishboat/fish/action/stock_bywater.php?WB_code=0006 |accessdate=31 July 2014}}</ref> Between 1993 and 1994, Lake Alan Henry was stocked with largemouth bass, white crappie, smallmouth bass, channel catfish, and other assorted fish by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.<ref name="Fishing">{{cite web |publisher=Visit Lubbock |title=Lake Alan Henry: Fishing |url=https://mylubbock.us/departments/lake-alan-henry/fishing|accessdate=22 July 2025}}</ref> Currently, a consumption advisory is in place for certain species of fish found in the lake due to concerns of high levels of mercury.<ref>{{cite web |publisher=Texas Parks and Wildlife |title=Fish Consumption Bans and Advisories |url= http://www.tpwd.texas.gov/regulations/outdoor-annual/fishing/general-rules-regulations/fish-consumption-bans-and-advisories#alanhenry |accessdate=31 July 2014}}</ref>
== History == In the 1960s, the city of Lubbock moved forward with plans to create another water source for its growing population, and after years of soil studies and engineering research, the current location of the John T. Montford Dam was chosen as the closest and most suitable area for the structure and subsequent reservoir. After an application was approved by the Army Corps of Engineers, design work on the dam began in the 1980s. Construction started in 1991, and after two years, the dam was completed and began operation in 1993.<ref name="Alan Henry"/> The dam was named in honor of Senator John Thomas Montford for his efforts in legislation concerning the reservoir; likewise, Lake Alan Henry was named for a former mayor of Lubbock.<ref name="About">{{cite web |publisher=City of Lubbock |title=About Us |url=https://mylubbock.us/departments/lake-alan-henry/about-us|accessdate=22 July 2025}}</ref>
In 1994, as the reservoir began to fill, a water sampling program was created by Lubbock city officials in order to establish baseline water quality data.<ref>{{cite web |publisher=City of Lubbock |title=Water Quality Monitoring Plan |url=http://www.mylubbock.us/departmental-websites/departments/lake-alan-henry/about-us/water-quality |accessdate=31 July 2014 |archive-date=8 August 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140808053156/http://www.mylubbock.us/departmental-websites/departments/lake-alan-henry/about-us/water-quality |url-status=dead }}</ref> Before its water can be officially utilized, it is projected three pumping stations, a new water treatment plant, and {{convert|65|miles|abbr=on}} of the pipeline are needed to be established in-between Lubbock and Lake Alan Henry. This would have a predicted maximum yield of 23 million gallons of water per day for Lubbock.<ref name="Future"/>
Today, the lake is used primarily as a recreational spot for the surrounding areas; fishing, water skiing, hunting, and other outdoor activities (including hiking and camping) are the main draw for visitors to the lake.<ref name="Recreation"/><ref name="Fishing"/> The Sam Wahl Recreational Area consists of over {{convert|580|acres|abbr=on}}.<ref name="About"/>
==See also== {{Portal|Texas}} *Clear Fork Brazos River *North Fork Double Mountain Fork Brazos River *Salt Fork Brazos River *White River (Texas)
==References== {{reflist}}
== External links == *[http://www.tpwd.texas.gov/fishboat/fish/recreational/lakes/alan_henry/ Texas Parks and Wildlife: Lake Alan Henry] *[http://waterdatafortexas.org/reservoirs/individual/alan-henry Lake Alan Henry Water Levels] *[https://www.facebook.com/pages/Lake-Alan-Henry/118688600838 Lake Alan Henry Facebook Page]
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Category:Dams in Texas Alan Henry Alan Henry