Texas Porch

Fishing / Recreation

Lake J.B. Thomas Offers Fishing and Camping in Borden County

Lake J.B. Thomas, a reservoir on the Colorado River straddling Borden and Scurry counties, provides the main public outdoor recreation opportunity in this otherwise remote area.

Borden County The Great Outdoors

Lake J.B. Thomas is a reservoir of about 7,282 acres. It was built in 1952 on the Colorado River. The lake sits about 12 miles southwest of Snyder, along the Borden-Scurry county line. The Colorado River Municipal Water District manages the lake and supplies drinking water to several West Texas cities. Five parks around the lake offer camping, fishing, picnicking, and boating. There is a day-use entrance fee per vehicle.

Texas Parks and Wildlife (TPWD) lists these fish at the lake: largemouth bass, blue catfish, channel catfish, white crappie, and white bass, among others. Water levels can change a lot — sometimes four to ten feet from season to season. The water is usually murky. Watch out for stumps and shallow areas in the upper part of the reservoir. All fish are managed under standard statewide rules. Check the current TPWD Outdoor Annual for limits and season dates.

Borden County has no state parks. Lake J.B. Thomas is the main place for public outdoor recreation in the area. The TPWD District Fisheries Office in Canyon manages the lake. You can reach them at (806) 655-4341.

Source to confirm: Texas Parks and Wildlife Department — J.B. Thomas Reservoir

More Borden County notes

Property tax

Homestead Exemption Lowers Your Property Tax Bill in Borden County

Homeowners who live in their Borden County property as their primary residence can file a one-time homestead exemption application to reduce their taxable value and cap future appraisal increases.

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Agricultural valuation

Agricultural Valuation Can Sharply Cut Land Taxes on Borden County Ranches

Borden County landowners who ranch, farm, or manage wildlife can apply to pay taxes on what the land produces rather than what it would sell for.

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Oil & gas / Mineral rights

Oil and Gas Activity in Borden County Means Mineral Rights Matter

Borden County has produced oil since 1949 and falls within Railroad Commission District 8A, so buyers of rural land should check whether mineral rights are included in a sale or have already been severed.

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Water / Groundwater

Borden County Has No Groundwater Conservation District — Well Rules Are Minimal

Borden County does not have a local groundwater conservation district, which means there are no local permits required to drill a water well, but the county sits in a drought-prone area where groundwater levels in the Ogallala Aquifer have been declining for decades.

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