Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
About the Lake & Its Construction
Q: Where is the lake located?
A: Lake Ralph Hall is located in Fannin County just north of Ladonia off of SH 34 in Southeast Fannin County, about an hour and a half northeast of Dallas. See a map of the future lake here.
Q: When did construction begin, and when will the project be completed?
A: Construction of the new lake began mid-2021, and the dam is expected to be completed in late 2026. Given normal rainfall, it may take three to five years to fill. In the meantime, lake amenities such as boat ramps, fishing jetty and walking trails at the future Visitor Center and Lake Office are being planned and built in anticipation of the lake being operational.
Q: Why is the lake being built, and who is building it?
A: The North Texas region, which includes Denton and Collin Counties, is one of the fastest growing regions in the nation. Upper Trinity Regional Water District (Upper Trinity), which serves 29 communities in Denton and Collin Counties, is building Lake Ralph Hall to provide essential water for the area it serves. A portion of the water from the new lake will be available for local use through an agreement with the City of Ladonia. Upper Trinity will operate and own the water in Lake Ralph Hall.
Q: What are the lake project components?
A: Components include:
- A dam, spillway and lake intake
- 32 miles of untreated water pipeline and balancing reservoir
- Roadway relocations/improvements and a new lake bridge
- Lake office and maintenance facilities
- Environmental improvements and recreational amenities in specific areas around the lake
Q: What environmental improvements were done as part of the lake’s construction?
A: The reservoir site is on a portion of the North Sulphur River that has experienced extensive erosion since the river channel was altered in the 1920s – going from 16 feet wide by 10 feet deep to approximately 300 feet wide and 60 feet deep. This is over 20 times its original size. Hundreds of acres of valuable land/soil, trees and wildlife habitat have been lost to this erosion.
Lake Ralph Hall’s mitigation components are helping reduce the impact of the continued erosion and have restored portions of the original river channel to its beautiful and natural, meandering path. Environmental mitigation was completed in specific areas around the lake, including portions of the original river channel.
Q: What about fossils or artifacts that are in the future lake’s footprint? Are those being considered and preserved?
A: UTRWD has worked hard to ensure artifacts and fossils encountered during the construction of Lake Ralph Hall are handled appropriately.
Additionally, all contractors working on Lake Ralph Hall job sites have been trained on standard operating procedures for when a suspected artifact is detected. This has ensured that proper handling and documentation occurs.
Q: What other benefits will the lake project provide to the local area?
A: The project has already and will continue to bring significant local economic benefits to Fannin County and the surrounding areas. Upper Trinity selected local construction and supply companies to support lake construction. The lake’s recreation and new amenities will also help be a stimulus to the region, especially to nearby Ladonia.
Water Delivery from Lake Ralph Hall
Q: Who will receive water from Lake Ralph Hall?
A: Lake Ralph Hall will provide 35 million gallons daily (MGD) of raw water and 19 MGD of reuse water for residents and businesses in Denton and Collin counties, as well as a portion of Fannin county (more on this below).
Q: Will the local community and City of Ladonia receive water from the new lake?
A: Upper Trinity has made provisions at the lake’s pump station for water to be available to Ladonia for local use within the Sulphur River Basin in Fannin County.
Future Recreation Opportunities
Q: When will the lake open for recreation?
A: Lake Ralph Hall will open for recreation once it has filled and is safe for the public (which could take 3-5 years depending on rainfall). It will begin to fill after impoundment, which is scheduled for late 2026.
Q: What recreational amenities have or will be developed around the lake?
A: Knowing how important recreation is to the local area, Upper Trinity plans to provide the following lake amenities as part of the Lake Ralph Hall project:
- Three public boat ramps,
- A fishing jetty (for lake access without a boat),
- A new a Ladonia Fossil Park (which is open to the public),
- A walking path over the lake’s new bridge that connects to existing trail networks,
- A Visitor Center, and
- Trails near the Visitor Center (the trail head parking area is complete and open for access to the SH 34 bridge. Future trails are under design on the Visitor Center and Lake Office site, which is adjacent to the south end of the SH 34 bridge).
Q: Has the lake been stocked with fish, and if so, with what kind?
A: Upper Trinity has partnered with Texas Parks and Wildlife (TPWD) as part of the Toyota ShareLunker Program to stock the lake with genetically enhanced Florida bass that grow to a larger size. In addition, TPWD plans to stock the lake with black and white crappie, channel and blue catfish, sunfish, bluegill, threadfin and gizzard shad.
Q: How will recreators access the lake to fish and boat? Will the boat ramps be accessible during seasonal changes to the lake levels?
A: Once it is open to the public, the lake will include three public access points with boat ramps as well as public fishing jetty (more info and a map here). Careful consideration was taken to ensure that the ramps are long enough to be accessible as much as possible. Parking is planned for each of these access points.
Q: Is the Ladonia Fossil Park open to the public?
A: Yes. Upper Trinity has opened a new Ladonia Fossil Park on FM 904 near the North Sulphur River with additional amenities. More info here.
Q: What kind of public hunting will be available on and around Lake Ralph Hall?
A: Upper Trinity provides public hunting access to over 1,150 acres of land adjacent to the future Lake Ralph Hall through a cooperative agreement with TPWD’s public hunting program. Information on this public program can be found on the TPWD website.
Q: Are camping and swimming going to be available at the lake?
A: Camping options near the lake already include the Caddo National Grasslands (primitive camping through the TPWD program mentioned above) and privately owned campgrounds in the area. Bonham State Park and RV Camping is also located nearby.