Inks Lake State Park

History

Historically the park has provided many resources, employment and recreation.

Many locals suggest that native Americans have used the land for hunting, although there is no evidence of such online.

Initial development was begun in the 1930s by the Civilian Conservation Corps. Although the plans were never fulfilled, a boathouse and road system with dozens of stone culverts were constructed.

Geology

The park is located on the eastern edge of a Mesoproterozoic exposure within the Llano Uplift. The local rocks are named for the park as the Inks Lake Gneiss, a granitic gneiss dated at .

Rock that appears slightly pink is visible through the limestone rock in the park, a type of metamorphic rock called Valley Spring gneiss. This metamorphic rock is often mistaken for town mountain granite since they are very similar in color and texture. The small granite that only appears in the park has veins cutting through the gneiss in and around the rock.

Over millions of years, intense heat and pressure was frequently applied to the original rock, subsequently forming gneiss rocks. The original rocks were sedimentary (formed from sand, silt, and mud) and igneous (likely granite).

Nature

Animals

The most common mammals in the park are white-tailed deer, raccoon, fox squirrel, nine-banded armadillo, skunk and rabbit. Visitors may occasionally see foxes, ringtails and coyotes.

Common birds include turkey vultures, black vultures, great blue herons, snowy egrets, mallard and wood ducks, northern cardinals, scissor-tailed flycatchers, Carolina chickadees, Bewick's wrens, red-tailed hawks and house sparrows. There is a bird hide in the park.

A number of reptiles have been documented in the park including, western diamondback rattlesnake, western cottonmouth, Texas coral snake, diamondback water snakes and red-eared sliders.

Flora

Common trees here are Ashe juniper, honey mesquite, cedar elm, live oak, post oak, Texas persimmon, pecan and willow.

Native grasses include blue grama, sideoats grama and buffalograss. Many wildflowers, such as Texas bluebonnets, Indian blankets and Indian paintbrushes, bloom in the spring.

A wide variety of cacti, from the prickly pear to the tasajillo, barrel cactus and lace cactus groin the park. You will also see yucca and beebrush.

Water conditions

Conservation pool elevation usually stays around 888.22 ft. msl; however, this lake does fluctuate about 1 foot annually.

Inks lake water clarity can be seen as clear to slightly stained mostly throughout the year. It tends to have higher turbidity during the rainy season due to excessive amounts of runoff.

Although diving and swimming are allowed at the waterhole, no lifeguards are present.

Fishing regulations

All species of fish in the park are currently managed under statewide regulations. Bow fishers on this lake are subject matter to special regulations which are enforced by the Lower Colorado River Authority.

Angling opportunities

Fish were stocked in the reservoir in the late 1980s and early 1990s, and there atre currently fishing opportunities.

It includes largemouth bass and Guadalupe bass populations, along with several species of sunfish (bream). White bass are regularly caught in the reservoir, and a small white crappie population is present. Channel and flathead catfish occur throughout the reservoir.

Fishing cover/structure

Inks Lake offers a wide variety of cover and structure for fish species. The shoreline contains various rock piles, ledges, and rock banks. Brush piles and gravel beds have been placed near fishing piers and other strategic locations to attract more fish.

Several private boat docks, particularly on the west side of the lake, hold fish year-round. Water in the reservoir is fairly clear.

References

• Inks Lake State Park from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department website. January 8, 2006.
• from the USGS website. January 17, 2006.

References

1. Christopher Adams. (February 24, 2023). "What is the most visited state park in Texas? Here's the top 10 countdown".
2. "Inks Lake State Park {{!}} Nature Rocks Austin".
3. (2021). "Interpretative guide to Inks Lake State Park and Longhorn Tavern State Park". Texas Parks and Wildlife.
4. Reese, Joseph F., et al., ''Mesoproterozoic chronostratigraphy of the southeastern Llano uplift, central Texas,'' Geological Society of America Bulletin 2000;112;278-291
5. "Inks Lake State Park Nature — Texas Parks & Wildlife Department".
6. "Inks Lake State Park Nature — Texas Parks & Wildlife Department".
7. "Fishing Inks Lake".
8. "Inks Reservoir Survey Report".