| Amistad Reservoir | |
|---|---|
| Amistad Dam and Reservoir | |
| Location | Val Verde County, Texas, USA / Acuña Municipality, Coahuila, Mexico |
| Lake type | Hydroelectric reservoir |
| Basin countries | United States / Mexico |
| Surface area | 64,900 acres (26,300 ha) |
| Max. depth | 217 ft (66 m) |
| Water volume | 5,658,600 acre·ft (6.9798 km3) |
| Surface elevation | 1,117 ft (340 m) |
Amistad Reservoir is a reservoir on the Rio Grande at its confluence with the Devils River 12 miles (19 km) northwest of Del Rio, Texas, USA. The lake is bounded by Val Verde County on the Texas side of the international border, and the state of Coahuila on the Mexican side of the border. The reservoir was formed in November, 1969 by the construction of Amistad Dam to provide flood control, water conservation, irrigation, hydroelectric power, and recreation to the area. The dam and lake are managed jointly by the governments of the United States and Mexico through the International Boundary and Water Commission. The name of the dam and lake is the Spanish word for "friendship". The lake is also referred to as Lake Amistad.
Amistad Reservoir is stocked with species of fish intended to improve the utility of the reservoir for recreational fishing. Fish present in Amistad Reservoir include largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, Guadalupe bass, and catfish. Amistad Gambusia was eliminated in the wild when construction of the Amistad Reservoir in 1968 submerged its habitat under approximately 70 feet (21 m) of water from the Rio Grande.
Amistad National Recreation Area includes the land area around the Amistad Reservoir on the Texas side of the lake. The lake provides year-round, water-based recreation opportunities, including boating, fishing, swimming, scuba diving and water-skiing, as well as other recreational opportunities for picnicking, camping, and hunting. The area is rich in archeology and rock art, and contains a wide variety of plant and animal life. It is also near the flight path of USAF trainers.