Is It Safe to Swim in Lake Worth?

Lake Worth is an artificial reservoir built in 1914. With a surface area of nearly 3,500 acres and an average depth of just 6 feet, it might seem like the perfect place to cool off.

Add in the fact that Lake Worth is one of the most well-known lakes in the entire state of Texas, and it’s easy to see why people would want to take a dip. However, a common and highly reasonable concern that many visitors face is wondering whether it is actually safe to swim in. To answer that, we first need to understand what makes swimming in natural lakes potentially dangerous.

Should I Swim In Lake Worth?

There are three main dangers when it comes to swimming in natural bodies of water: toxicity, contamination, and nature.

1. Toxicity

By toxicity, we refer to man-made pollution. There are many unfortunate cases across the country where industrial waste is dumped into rivers and lakes, making them incredibly dangerous to swim in. Fortunately, if you plan to visit Lake Worth, we have good news: there are no major, widespread reports of toxic industrial dumping currently plaguing the lake.

You should remain vigilant nonetheless. Always look out for local signs and official park markings that warn about potential pollution. If you want to know more about general safety when it comes to swimming in open water, you can check out our previous post on this very topic.

2. Contamination

E. coli is one vicious bacteria you absolutely do not want to contract. Not only can it make you severely ill, but it stems directly from waste. Whether it’s from overflowing municipal sewers or agricultural runoff, E. coli is always present where there is excrement.

While the Texas Commission for Environmental Quality generally considers the majority of lakes and rivers in Texas safe for recreational use, water quality can fluctuate wildly. Heavy rainfall often washes debris and runoff straight into the lake, temporarily spiking bacteria levels. Because it is hard to find real-time, definitive daily conclusions on the exact purity levels of the water, swimmers must assume some level of risk.

3. Nature & Wildlife

If you are about to swim in Lake Worth, you probably won’t have to worry too much about the depth of the water (averaging around 6 feet). What you might have to worry about, however, are alligators.

Alligators are native to the Trinity River watershed and have been spotted countless times in and around the lake, particularly near the Fort Worth Nature Center and Refuge. Although most gator interactions do not end with humans getting hurt—as they generally prefer to keep to themselves—it is a very real presence that you have to be willing to share the water with.