Overview
Choke Canyon Reservoir is a roughly 25,670-acre water-supply lake on the Frio River in Live Oak and McMullen counties, northwest of Corpus Christi in South Texas. The dam was completed in the early 1980s under a partnership of the City of Corpus Christi and the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation for municipal and industrial water supply with recreation and wildlife habitat as companion purposes.
The lake has about 135 miles of shoreline, an average depth near 25 feet, and a maximum depth of about 95.5 feet. South Texas brush country, broad flats, creek arms, and submerged timber create productive warmwater habitat, and Choke Canyon State Park anchors much of the public shoreline.
Choke Canyon is known for largemouth bass, catfish, and crappie fishing and for wildlife viewing, with fisheries managed by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. State park ramps, camping, and day-use areas draw visitors from the Coastal Bend and San Antonio regions.
Water levels are managed around a conservation pool of 220.5 feet above mean sea level (NGVD29). The emergency spillway crest is near 223.2 feet; the project is primarily a water-supply reservoir rather than a large USACE flood-control lake. Elevations respond strongly to drought and municipal demand, so monitoring current lake levels is essential for boating, fishing, and park access.
Current Conditions
Choke Canyon Reservoir is currently 28.87 feet below full pool and has fallen slightly over the past week.
- 7-day trendFallingLatest movement can differ from the seven-day trend.
- 7-day changeDown 0.27 ft
- 30-day changeUp 2.04 ft
- Drought conditionsAbnormally Dry
About This Lake
Learn how this lake is managed, what affects its water level, and where Lake Insights gets its data.
Choke Canyon Reservoir is a 25,670-acre reservoir on the Frio River managed by City of Corpus Christi / U.S. Bureau of Reclamation.