Lake Nocona — formally the Farmers Creek Reservoir — is one of Montague County’s two principal reservoirs, sitting roughly seven miles north of Nocona in the county’s Red River drainage. Construction began in September 1959 and the reservoir was completed in October 1960, a direct product of the 1950s drought of record that drove municipal water planning across Texas. The lake covers 1,362 acres at conservation pool elevation (827.5 feet MSL), with a normal capacity of 21,749 acre-feet based on the TWDB’s 2001 volumetric survey. The North Montague County Water Supply District owns and operates the reservoir.
Lake History
The 1950s drought of record — the worst drought Texas experienced in the twentieth century — made municipal water security an urgent planning priority. Lake Nocona was the Nocona area’s answer: a surface water reservoir on Farmers Creek, a tributary of the Red River system that drains through northern Montague County. The 94-square-mile drainage area above the dam collects spring runoff and storm-event inflow, filling a reservoir that serves as the primary water source for Nocona and surrounding water districts.
The lake’s formal hydrological name, Farmers Creek Reservoir, is in official TWDB records alongside the common “Lake Nocona” usage. Both names are current. As a cornerstone resource within the TWDB Region B planning framework and the Red River basin water management system, the reservoir contributes to the managed water availability for municipal, agricultural, and industrial needs across the region.
Recreation
Lake Nocona is the recreational identity element of modern Nocona. Fishing, boating, camping, and lakeside life combine to make the lake the primary outdoor draw in the county’s north.
Fishing is the dominant recreation. Largemouth bass are the primary target species. Channel catfish, crappie, white bass, and sunfish round out the sport fishery. Texas Parks and Wildlife Department manages fish populations; a valid fishing license is required and TPWD bag and size limits apply. The lake has a tradition of spring white bass runs up Farmers Creek tributaries — an annual fishing tradition with regional reputation. Local and regional tournaments are held on the lake.
Boating access is available through public boat ramps. Camping at designated lakeside sites and picnic areas provide day-use infrastructure. Some lakefront private cabins and homes exist along the irregular shoreline, and lake-house culture is part of the Nocona-area community identity. DFW-area visitors and Wichita Falls-area users contribute to the lake’s regional draw.
Drought cycles affect lake levels directly. The 2011 drought produced significant water-level decline that affected both recreation access and water supply planning. Subsequent wet years in 2012–2015 restored levels. The lake’s operational history mirrors the precipitation variability that made it necessary in the first place.
Water Supply
The reservoir serves as the primary water source for Nocona and surrounding areas within the North Montague County Water Supply District’s service territory. Water is treated at the Nocona water plant and distributed to municipal and rural customers. Drought contingency planning is integrated into the district’s management approach given the lake’s variable inflow characteristics.
Comparison with Lake Amon G. Carter
Lake Nocona and Lake Amon G. Carter together anchor Montague County’s water infrastructure:
- Lake Amon G. Carter (1956): 1,540 acres at conservation pool, on Big Sandy Creek (Trinity basin), managed by the City of Bowie — serves Bowie’s water needs.
- Lake Nocona (1960): 1,362 acres at conservation pool, on Farmers Creek (Red River basin), managed by NMCWSD — serves Nocona’s water needs.
Both reservoirs were built in response to the 1950s drought of record. Both serve dual water-supply and recreational roles. Both face the same drought-cycle stresses that originally prompted their construction.
Getting There
Lake Nocona is located approximately 7 miles north of Nocona. FM roads north of Nocona provide access to the lake’s public facilities.
Related places: Nocona | Lake Amon G. Carter | Lake Valley
