Elevating the Lake Limestone Experience

A Brazos River Authority project is underway at Lake Limestone that will help improve one of its lakeside parks and provide easier access to the water for thousands who visit this central Texas reservoir every year.

Located near the Sterling C. Robertson Dam, Park #5 is one of two parks on Lake Limestone that are owned and operated by the BRA. The park offers a primitive camping area on a 10-acre lot with picnic tables, a pavilion, personal swimming access docks, and a boat ramp. The park project includes plans to replace the courtesy dock/boat loading pier that was removed several years ago due to deterioration. It will also add a separate access pier for fishing to make the park safer for all who visit.

"We divided the loading pier and the access pier into two different structures," said Jackie Scott, the assistant reservoir manager at Lake Limestone. "The new loading pier will be located by the boat ramp on the north end of the launch ramp. And, on the south end of the park, we are building the fishing access pier to help spread people out and avoid crowding."

The separation of the two piers is vital to the safety of future visitors to the park, as it will create space between boating activities from other recreational activities.

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When operating near shorelines, boat operators should always keep a constant lookout for swimmers. While operating within 50 feet of the shoreline or any boathouse, dock, on-water facility, occupied watercraft or area where people are swimming or diving on a BRA reservoir, watercraft are required to operate at a slow, no-wake speed.

"The fishermen can stay on the south side of the park near the new access pier, that keeps them away from the boat ramp and the loading pier," Scott said. "A lot of people swim on the north end of the park, near the smaller personal docks that they can use to get into the water. The separate access pier for fishing will help control crowding at the boat ramp and loading pier."

In addition to the two new piers, other park upgrades include paving new areas for visitors, repaving existing pavement and the installation of additional dusk to dawn lighting. The new lighting will be located on the south end of the park.

The gears are officially in motion with this park project, as asphalting and repaving have started and should be completed by the end of September. However, the access and loading pier are still in the design phase. The selection for contracting for construction of the loading pier, access pier and ADA-compliant pathway will take place within the next six months.

Lake Limestone, located on the upper Navasota River in Limestone, Robertson and Leon counties, was built by the BRA in 1978 as a water supply reservoir. The reservoir was formed by the construction of Sterling C. Robertson Dam, which contains five "Tainter" gates for water release and a 3,000-foot emergency spillway. Lake Limestone also has three other parks, one other maintained by the BRA and two maintained by Limestone County, that are scattered across its shoreline. Each offers amenities like launching ramps, campsites, picnic tables and piers.

For more information on amenities at Lake Limestone, call 903-529-2141 or email information@brazos.org.