Lake Worth, built in 1914, was intended to provide clean drinking water, flood control, and an enjoyable source of recreation for all citizens of Fort Worth.  This lake is presently suffering from 92 years of neglect.  It’s shallow and dirty, with an average depth of about two muddy feet.  Although we are told that the water is safe to drink, the fish have been declared unsafe to eat.  Because its holding capacity has been severely compromised, Fort Worth’s only gravity-driven reservoir cannot most efficiently serve as an effective reserve source of water during times of extreme drought or in an emergency. It can no longer function effectively to control flooding on the Trinity River, and because of dangerous sandbars, emerging stumps, and debris, it no longer provides a safe, enjoyable source of recreation.

Lake Worth, however, is a lake worth saving.  Cleaning up the debris, dredging to restore holding capacity and safety, controlling siltation by preserving green space around the lake, and regulating commercial operations can restore the lake to its original purposes and rehabilitate the area environmentally.  In the past, lack of funding has hampered such efforts.  However, great promise is now seen from revenues derived from Barnett Shale gas drilling under the lake.

The Lake Worth Alliance is made up of representatives of the neighborhood associations around Lake Worth, as well as area residents and businesses who are actively involved in addressing critical issues that impact all of us: the entire community of Fort Worth.