Project Components

UTRWD is building various different pieces to complete Lake Ralph Hall:

• Leon Hurse Dam, approximately 2.3 miles long
• Spillway (to release excess water back into the North Sulphur River)
• Intake structure and pump station (to move water to the balancing reservoir, where it can be pumped through pipelines to treatment). The station will initially be able to pump up to 45 million gallons per day (MGD) and eventually up to 80 MGD.

Construction on the reservoir began early 2021, and work will continue through 2026.

Untreated Water Pipeline and Balancing Reservoir

To move water from the lake, Upper Trinity Regional Water District (UTRWD) is building:

• 32 miles of 66-inch and 72-inch-diameter to carry raw water from the lake to the UTRWD system. This new pipeline will connect the reservoir to an existing pipeline that currently delivers water to UTRWD’s system from Chapman Lake (see below). This existing pipeline has enough available capacity to carry water from Lake Ralph Hall to the UTRWD system.

• A balancing reservoir to provide separation between the pumped and gravity-flow sections of the pipeline. The balancing reservoir will be located between the new pump station and the delivery point facility, at one of the higher points along the pipeline.
• A delivery point facility to control the flow of water from Lake Ralph Hall downstream into the Lake Chapman Pipeline.

Construction on the pipeline is planned to begin in spring 2023 and finish in spring/summer of 2025

Photos of Work on the Pipeline and Balancing Reservoir:

Road Relocations/Improvements and New Lake Bridge

View current and upcoming road construction in the map below. Click through for more details.

Environmental Improvements

The Lake Ralph Hall project also includes a number of stream and water quality improvement projects. These will include:

• Restoring a portion of the original North Sulphur River
• Other water quality improvement projects

Mitigation work is planned to begin in 2022 and finish in summer/fall of 2025.

Ladonia Fossil Park Relocation

The Lake Ralph Hall project requires relocation of the existing Ladonia Fossil Park since the current park is located within the new reservoir. UTRWD recognizes the importance of the fossil park to local community and visitors alike. A temporary fossil park will be constructed to provide access to the North Sulphur River while the new reservoir is being built.

UTRWD and the City of Ladonia are also coordinating with local leaders to select a new location downstream of the reservoir so fossil hunters can continue to access the river bottom. Both the temporary and new, permanent parks will provide opportunities for additional and untapped fossil discoveries.

Read more about the fossil park relocation.

Lake Office and Maintenance Facilities

Public Lake Office:

Our UTRWD public lake office for general inquiries and information is located near the reservoir site at:

10910 State Highway 34, Ladonia, TX 75449 Phone number: 903-367-7008

The office is open to the public Monday – Friday 8am to 1pm, and walk-ins are welcome.

Program Construction Office:

In addition to the lake office, a program construction office is now open in downtown Ladonia to support the on-going lake construction activities. This office is for contractors and UTRWD construction personnel, and team members are available by appointment only. 

Photos of the Lake Offices and Maintenance Facilities:

Recreational Amenities

While the primary purpose of the lake is to provide untreated water, there will be opportunities for recreational amenities. To safeguard water quality, UTRWD may have certain rules and regulations on the use of those amenities. Recreational uses and amenities will be determined in the future, but most likely will include fishing, boating and nature watching. UTRWD is working with local officials to develop a plan that guides recreation around and on the lake.