Background

According to the The Handbook of Texas Online, In 1914 the city of Fort Worth Began building the first manmade reservoir in Texas. The reservoir was to be used by the city of Fort Worth as municipial water supply, a reservoir of course, but also as a recreational lake for the public.It was completed in 1916 after the Dam was constructed, connecting the lake to the west fork of the Trinity River.

In the history of Friends of the Fort Worth Nature center,The Fort Worth Audubon Society began to look for a location for a Sanctuary for assurance of the survival of our wildlife in the early 60's. 1967 the city of Fort Worth Steps in and helps fund the Nature Center project.  In the 1980s the U.S department of interiors declared the northern part and 3621 acres as a National Natural Landmark. The Government began protecting the wildlife.

Sources.
"City News." Fort Worth Flashback: Lake Worth Was Built to Provide Drinking Water, Recreation. City of Fort Worth, June-July 2011. Web. 17 Oct. 2012. <http://fortworthtexas.gov/flashback/?id=98452.>

"History." Friends of the Fort Worth Nature Center & Refuge. Friends of Fort Worth Nature Center, n.d. Web. 17 Oct. 2012. <http://www.naturecenterfriends.org/history.php.>.

"Lake Worth" The Handbook of Texas Online.N.D. web. 17 Oct 2012 .<http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/rol87 >.