July 2026

Lake Ralph Hall Begins to Hold Water

Crews recently completed the top section of the lake’s spillway, including the 13-foot-tall labyrinth weir that helps control how water leaves the lake and maintains its maximum water level.

With that key piece in place, the intake structure gates were closed, and Lake Ralph Hall officially began to fill in early July. This milestone marks the end of major construction on the reservoir itself. How long it takes for the lake to fill depends on rainfall and could be three to five years. We will continue to share updates as the lake fills.

Completed weir at the top of the Lake Ralph Hall spillway

The lake begins to fill with water

The SH 34 Trailhead Lot Now Open

The State Highway 34 trailhead parking lot is complete and open to the public. The lot includes approximately 22 parking spaces and provides access to the pedestrian trail across the new SH 34 Bridge, pictured below. It will also provide additional parking for the future visitor center.

The State Highway 34 trailhead parking lot

Fish Stocking Continues

This month, Texas Parks and Wildlife stocked an additional 50,000 Lone Star bass fingerlings in the North Sulphur River channel. The Parks and Wildlife team will continue to add sunfish and shad as well, primarily to support the new bass population. These stocking efforts are helping establish the future fishery as Lake Ralph Hall continues to fill.

The lake will open to the public for fishing and other recreation once it is sufficiently filled and conditions are safe for public access.

Texas Parks and Wildlife stocks the river channel inside the lake footprint