Lake Murvaul Controlling Authority
Panola County Fresh Water District #1
Office Manager and Records Custodian: Cindy Gamble
638 County Road 1234
Carthage, TX 75633
Regular board meetings are conducted the second Thursday of each month at 4:00pm at the Pavilion at Lake Murvaul. The board has authority over Lake Murvaul Reservoir including the Murvaul Bayou dam and surrounding properties and parks.
Board Member |
Representing |
Office Held |
---|---|---|
Sammy Peace | Precinct 4 | President |
James Marshall | Precinct 3 | Vice President |
Mark Harris | Precinct 2 | Treasurer |
Bubba Broadus | At Large | Secretary |
Brandon Davis | Precinct 1 |
The PCFWSD #1 Board is organized according to Chapter 49 and 53 of the Texas Water Code for the purpose of:
Conserving, transporting and distributing fresh water from Lake Murvaul in Panola County for domestic and commercial purposes, as contemplated by Section 59, Article XVI, of the Constitution of the State of Texas.
Maintaining the dam and reservoir at Lake Murvaul
Furnishing and supplying residents of said District with an adequate supply of fresh water for domestic and commercial purposes.
Murvaul Lake History

Facts
Lake Murvaul has an excellent and highly utilized largemouth bass fishery. The reservoir received national recognition in the 1960s for its trophy bass production and continues to produce bass over 8 lbs. Management strategies have been developed to take advantage of Murvaul’s ability to grow large bass. During the late 1990s, a supplemental stocking program was conducted to increase the Florida bass genotype in the population and harvest regulations were modified to protect intermediate-size bass and increase fishing quality. Channel catfish are present in high numbers and provide excellent opportunities for anglers. Quality-size crappie are present with best fishing success in winter and spring. Sunfish (bluegill and redear) are present in good numbers with high numbers of fish over 6 inches available for harvest.
Lake Characteristics
Surface area: 3,397 acres
Maximum depth: 36 feet
Impounded: 1958
Conservation Pool Elevation: 265.5 ft. msl
Fluctuation: 2-3 feet
Normal Clarity: Moderately clear
Aquatic Vegetation
We currently have Giant Salvinia on the lake: please educate yourself about Salvinia at: http://texasinvasives.org/