Breathtaking sunsets, beautiful waterfront properties spanning from the northside to the southside of Cross Lake and the convenience of just minutes from the business district make for easy living. Cross Lake is a natural treasure formed from the Great Log Raft which impeded the flow of the Red River and inundated low lying areas upstream. It was one of a chain of lakes in the Red River Valley which was created during this time. After the clearing of the raft in 1873, the water level fell and the lake disappeared completely. A concrete dam 3.6 miles upstream from the confluence of Cross Bayou and Red River on the right of way of the Kansas City Southern Railroad was constructed in 1926 impounding Cross Lake. The original spillway set the normal pool elevation of the lake at 168.22 MSL. In 1962, three hinged crest gates were added to the concrete spillway structure. This increased the normal pool stage of the reservoir to 171.2 MSL. The lake occupies the valleys of Cross Bayou and Paw Paw Bayou. It is a potable water supply for the City of Shreveport and recreational paradise for fishing, boating, waterskiing, and waterfowl hunting. Size: 8,576 acres; Watershed: 253 square miles; Water Level Control: City of Shreveport; Shoreline Length: 70 miles; Average Depth: 7.7 ft.; Maximum Depth: 18.3 ft.; TotalWaterVolume: 65,807 acre-ft.; Natural Seasonal Water Fluctuation: 2-3 ft.