Editing Lake Kickapoo

{{For|the lake in Mississippi|Kickapoo Lake (Mississippi)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2025}}
{{Infobox body of water
 | name                 = Lake Kickapoo
 | image                = 
 | caption              = 
 | image_bathymetry     = 
 | caption_bathymetry   = 
 | location             = [[Archer County, Texas|Archer County]], [[Texas]]
 | coords               = {{coord|33|39|40|N|098|46|34|W|type:waterbody_region:US-TX_source:gnis|display=inline,title}}
 | lake_type            = [[reservoir]]
 | inflow               = 
 | outflow              = 
 | catchment            = 
 | basin_countries      = [[United States]]
 | length               = 
 | width                = 
 | area                 = {{convert|6200|acre|abbr=on}}
 | depth                = 
 | max-depth            = 
 | volume               = 
 | residence_time       = 
 | shore                = 
 | elevation            = 
 | islands              = 
 | cities               = 
<!--      Map      -->
 | pushpin_map          = Texas#USA
 | pushpin_label_position  = 
 | pushpin_map_alt      = Location of Lake Kickapoo in Texas, USA.
 | pushpin_map_caption  = 
<!--   Below       -->  
 | website              = 
 | reference            = 
}}

'''Lake Kickapoo''' is a [[reservoir]] located on the North Fork [[Little Wichita River]] in the [[Red River Valley|Red River Basin]] of [[Archer County, Texas]]. It is neighbored by [[Archer City, Texas]] (population of 1,834) and [[Wichita Falls, Texas]] (population of 104,553) which reside within the [[Central Great Plains (ecoregion)|Central Great Plains]] ecoregion.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-02-08 |title=Texas ecoregion map |url=https://npsot.org/wp/resources/texas-ecoregion-map/ |access-date=2022-11-25 |website=Native Plant Society of Texas |language=en-US}}</ref>

== Hydrology ==
Lake Kickapoo reservoir was created by the impoundment of North Fork Little Wichita River, its only in-flow [[tributary]], in 1946.<ref name=":03">{{Cite web |title=Lake Kickapoo (Red River Basin) {{!}} Texas Water Development Board |url=https://www.twdb.texas.gov/surfacewater/rivers/reservoirs/kickapoo/index.asp |access-date=2022-11-25 |website=www.twdb.texas.gov |language=en}}</ref> The out-flow tributaries are Kickapoo Creek, Brier Creek, and Slippery Creek. It has a mean water level of {{convert|1,038|feet}}, surface area of {{convert|4,312|acres}}, and elevation of {{convert|1,060|feet}} above sea level as of 2022.<ref name=":03"/> The storage capacity, as of October 29, 2022, is {{convert|51,596|acre-feet}} with a maximum capacity of {{convert|86,345|acre-feet}}.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Water Data For Texas |url=https://waterdatafortexas.org/reservoirs/individual/kickapoo |access-date=2022-11-25 |website=waterdatafortexas.org}}</ref> The reservoir storage has steadily dropped by 293 acre-feet/year since 1945 when it had a total capacity of {{convert|106,000|acre-feet}}, due to increasing drought events in the region.<ref name=":1">{{Cite journal |date=September 2013 |title=Volumetric Survey of Lake Kickapoo |url=https://www.twdb.texas.gov/surfacewater/surveys/completed/files/Kickapoo/2013-09/Kickapoo2013_FinalReport.pdf |journal=Texas Water Development Board |via=TWDB}}</ref>

== Ecoregion ==
Lake Kickapoo resides within the Broken Red Plains subdivision of the [[Central Great Plains (ecoregion)|Central Great Plains]] ecoregion. The Broken Red Plains ecoregion is defined by red clay and sandy soils, with irregular sandstone and shrub-covered surface of the even more specific Wichita Formation ecoregion.<ref name=":22">{{Cite book |last=E. |first=Griffith, Glenn |url=http://worldcat.org/oclc/839783957 |title=Ecoregions of Texas |date=2007 |publisher=Texas Commission on Environmental Quality |oclc=839783957}}</ref> It is predominantly [[Grassland|grass-]]/[[shrubland]]s with plant species like [[Texas wintergrass]], [[Blue Grama|blue grama]], [[Buffalo grass|buffalograss]], [[sand bluestem]], etc. The [[riparian vegetation]] includes species such as [[cedar elm]] trees, [[pecan tree]]s, [[black willow]] trees, and [[tobosa grass]].<ref name=":22"/> This region has an annual precipitation of 30 inches and mean air temperature of 41 degrees Fahrenheit in January and 84 degrees Fahrenheit in July.

== Uses ==

=== Water supply ===
The construction of Lake Kickapoo Dam began in January 1945 and was completed on December 15, 1945. However, the deliberate impoundment of the North Fork Little Wichita River, a [[tributary]] of the [[Red River of the South|Red River]], did not occur until February 1, 1946.<ref name=":03"/> Lake Kickapoo Dam is classified as [[Earthfill Dam|earth-fill]] embankment dam with a length of {{convert|8,200|feet}} (including [[spillway]]) and height of {{convert|62|feet}}.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |last=Democrat |first=Daily |title=Lake Kickapoo Dam in Archer County, TX |url=https://data.fosters.com/dam/texas/archer-county/lake-kickapoo-dam/tx01010/ |access-date=2022-11-26 |website=Daily Democrat |language=en}}</ref> This dam's maximum design water surface has the capability to reach {{convert|1,060|feet}} above sea level but has been experiencing much lower levels due to recent droughts in the area. The dam's uncontrolled spillway is classified as [[Ogee crest|ogee]] concrete and has a crest elevation of {{convert|1,045|feet}} above sea level.<ref name=":03"/> Lake Kickapoo reservoir is owned by the city of Wichita Falls and operated for the continued use as a water supply.<ref name=":12">{{Cite journal |date=September 2013 |title=Volumetric Survey of Lake Kickapoo |url=https://www.twdb.texas.gov/surfacewater/surveys/completed/files/Kickapoo/2013-09/Kickapoo2013_FinalReport.pdf |journal=Texas Water Development Board |via=TWDB}}</ref> Although it is owned by the city of Wichita Falls, the dam is regulated by the government entity [[Texas Commission on Environmental Quality]].<ref name=":4" />

=== U.S. Naval Space Surveillance ===
One of the nine [[Air Force Space Surveillance System]] (formerly NAVSPASUR) sites is located at Lake Kickapoo (33°32.764′N 98°45.763′W). [https://spp.fas.org/military/program/track/spasur_at.htm Lake Kickapoo Field Station] is one of three transmitter sites of the southern surveillance network, which is operated by the U.S. Naval Command. The purpose of these stations is to maintain an electromagnetic fence that has the capability to identify objects as far as {{convert|15,000|nmi}}.<ref>{{Cite web |title=US Naval Space Command Space Surveillance System |url=https://spp.fas.org/military/program/track/spasur_at.htm |access-date=2022-11-25 |website=spp.fas.org}}</ref> The Lake Kickapoo field station was constructed in 1951 to fill a gap in the surveillance fence. It is considered unique due to its transmitting power of 560 [[kilowatts]] via the combination of commercial FM and TV power unit frequencies.<ref>{{Cite book |last=BREETZ,L.D. |first=NAVAL RESEARCH LAB WASHINGTON D C |url=http://worldcat.org/oclc/669553664 |title=U.S. NAVY SPACE SURVEILLANCE HIGH-POWER TRANSMITTER - LAKE KICKAPOO STATION |date=1962-01-05 |oclc=669553664}}</ref>

== Recreation ==

=== Sports fishing ===
The main source of recreation for Lake Kickapoo is [[Recreational fishing|sports fishing]]. The reservoir contains sports fish species, such as [[Blue catfish]] (abundant), [[Channel catfish]], [[Flathead catfish]], [[White bass|White Bass]] (abundant), [[Largemouth bass|Largemouth Bass]], and [[White crappie|White Crappie]] (declining in abundance).<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |title=Kickapoo Reservoir Survey Report |url=https://tpwd.texas.gov/publications/pwdpubs/lake_survey/pwd_rp_t3200_1317/2013.phtml |access-date=2022-11-25 |website=tpwd.texas.gov}}</ref> These fish species are supported by [[Forage fish|prey fish]], such as [[Dorosoma|Gizzard shad]] (abundant) and [[Bluegill]] (decreased abundance).

Management plans have been enacted to support the [[genetic diversity]] of Largemouth Bass due to this species designation as a source for [[Texas Parks and Wildlife Department]] hatchery brood stock program.<ref name=":3" /> This is due to the decline in habitat for [[Spawn (biology)|spawning]] and [[Nursery habitat|nursery areas]] via decreased water elevation.

== History ==

=== Namesake ===
The name was derived from the Native American [[Kickapoo people|Kickapoo tribe]] that was native to that area along with the nearby inflow stream, Kickapoo Creek.<ref name=":03"/>

=== Land use ===
There is an elevated abundance of [[Honey Mesquite|honey mesquite]] in the Broken Red Plains that has been associated with the 19th century [[cattle drive]]s and subsequent [[grazing pressure]] via land use.<ref name=":22"/>

=== Dam ===
Lake Kickapoo Dam was designed by F. M. Rugeley and A. J. Gates.<ref name=":13">{{Cite journal |date=September 2013 |title=Volumetric Survey of Lake Kickapoo |url=https://www.twdb.texas.gov/surfacewater/surveys/completed/files/Kickapoo/2013-09/Kickapoo2013_FinalReport.pdf |journal=Texas Water Development Board |via=TWDB}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*{{gnis|1374367}}
*{{Handbook of Texas|id=rol47}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Protected areas of Archer County, Texas]]
[[Category:Reservoirs in Texas|Kickapoo]]
[[Category:1947 establishments in Texas]]
[[Category:Protected areas established in 1947]]
[[Category:Bodies of water of Archer County, Texas]]