Cross Lake

The elongated east–west basin is about nine miles long, averages near 8 feet deep, and holds roughly 66,000 acre-feet at the spillway crest. Much of the shoreline is urbanized, especially on the eastern and southern sides, while cypress-lined banks, wetlands, and tributary mouths still give parts of the lake a classic northwest Louisiana character. Most inflow enters from western tributaries such as Paw Paw Bayou, Cross Bayou, and Shettleworth Bayou, with supplemental supply historically available from Twelvemile Bayou.

Cross Lake is popular for fishing, recreational boating, and wildlife viewing close to downtown Shreveport, with fisheries managed by the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries. Public parks, commercial facilities, and multiple access sites ring the lake for anglers and boaters chasing largemouth bass, crappie, and other warmwater species.

Water levels are controlled at a spillway crest of about 171.2 feet above mean sea level (NGVD29). Because the lake is both a water-supply reservoir and a heavily used urban fishery, elevations matter for treatment-plant operations, navigation of shallow flats, and dock access—so monitoring current lake levels is especially useful year-round. Nearby regional waters include Caddo Lake and Lake Bistineau.