Lake Palestine Area

Lake Palestine Area Lake Palestine, a 23,112-acre reservoir in East Texas, was created by the construction of the 5,720-foot-long Blackburn Crossing Dam on the Neches River. Started in 1960 and finished on June 13, 1962, the lake covers parts of Anderson, Cherokee, Henderson, and Smith counties, serving as a key water supply, recreation, and wildlife habitat. The dam was built to provide water for local municipalities and industrial needs. An enlargement project to increase the dam's capacity was initiated in 1969 and completed on March 3, 1972. Lake Palestine submerged the historic town of Naches Saline and the ruins of earlier salt-making operations that date back to the 1800s. The lake is managed by the Upper Neches River Municipal Water Authority. In 2014, a $2.3 billion project to build a 150-mile pipeline from Lake Palestine to Lake Benbrook was initiated, with construction planned for completion between 2018 and 2030 to serve Dallas and the Tarrant Regional Water District. Lake Palestine is heavily used for boating, fishing (white bass, striped bass, crappie), and water sports.