Cooper Lake became Jim Chapman Lake, but both names still work

Congress approved Cooper Lake for flood control and water supply in 1955. Work began decades later, and the Corps filled the lake in 1991. A 1998 order renamed it Jim Chapman Lake for the former local congressman. Cooper Lake is still the common name for the water and state park.

The working lake stores water for regional suppliers and helps reduce flood damage below Cooper Dam. Its public lands also support boating, fishing, camping, hiking, swimming, hunting, and wildlife management.

That mix explains why one trip can involve several agencies. The Corps operates the dam, TWDB tracks the reservoir, and TPWD manages the state park and wildlife area. For a day on the water, current elevation and facility conditions matter more than which lake name appears on the sign.