Birth of Lake Ray Roberts Photo

This is a photo from June 30, 1987 when Lake Ray Roberts dam and spillway was officially complete: Construction on the dam was started in 1982 and was completed in 1987. At the conservation (normal) pool elevation of 632.5 feet NGVD, the lake surface covers 28,646 acres. Ray Roberts dam, an earthen structure 141 feet high, is owned and operated by the United States Army Corps of Engineers. Ray Roberts Lake is home to many parks and recreation areas and includes boat ramps, trails, hiking, fishing, and other recreation opportunities. It was named after Ray Roberts (a local congressman who supported creation of the lake) in 1980. The lake took less than a year to fill up.