Overview
Possum Kingdom Lake is a roughly 17,900-acre reservoir on the Brazos River in Palo Pinto, Young, Jack, and Stephens counties, west of Fort Worth in the Texas Cross Timbers. Morris Sheppard Dam was completed in the 1940s and is operated by the Brazos River Authority for water supply, hydroelectric power, and recreation.
The lake has about 310 miles of shoreline, an average depth near 37 feet, and a maximum depth of about 145 feet. Clear water, limestone cliffs, rocky points, and deep riverine channels give Possum Kingdom a scenic canyon-lake character that sets it apart from many shallow plains reservoirs.
Possum Kingdom is a classic North Texas destination for boating, scuba diving, camping, and fishing for striped bass, largemouth bass, and catfish, with fisheries managed by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. State park lands, marinas, and public ramps support heavy recreational use from the Dallas–Fort Worth area.
Water levels are managed by the Brazos River Authority around a conservation pool of 999 feet above mean sea level (NGVD29), with top of gates / emergency spillway near 1,000 feet. Downstream on the Brazos, Lake Whitney is a major Corps flood-control reservoir, so monitoring Possum Kingdom levels is important for boating, fishing, and dock access.
Current Conditions
Possum Kingdom Lake is currently 3.03 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 0.39 ft
- 30-day changeDown 1.19 ft
- Drought conditionsAbnormally Dry
- Active advisories1 active (Advisory)
About This Lake
Learn how this lake is managed, what affects its water level, and where Lake Insights gets its data.
Possum Kingdom Lake is a 17,914-acre reservoir on the Brazos River managed by Brazos River Authority.