Texas is home to fifteen major river systems, eleven of which are self-contained entirely within the state's boundaries. All rivers in Texas flow into the Gulf of Mexico or one of its estuaries. Texas manages its rivers to maximize their use for a variety of purposes, including sports, recreation, agriculture, municipal water supply and wildlife habitat. The State of Texas owns all surface water within the state, and a permit is required to withdraw water from a river or stream.
The Canadian River has a total length of 760 miles, although only 190 miles of it flows through the Northern Texas panhandle. The river begins in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains of Colorado, and becomes a major tributary of the Arkansas River near Canadian, Oklahoma. Early explorers believed it flowed north into Canada and may have named the river for that country. Northeast of Amarillo, Sanford Dam forms Lake Meredith, which serves as a source of municipal water, flood control, recreation and wildlife habitat.
Named for its dominant red color, the Red River flows for a total distance of 1,360 miles, of which 640 are located in Texas. The Red River basin, the area drained by the river, consists of an area of 30,700 square miles and is the fourth largest basin in Texas. After exiting Texas, the river continues through Arkansas and into Louisiana, where it empties into the Mississippi River near Baton Rouge. Lake Texoma, formed behind Denison Dam on the Red River, is located along the Texas-Oklahoma border and is a favorite for sportsmen.
The Rio Grande has a length of 1,250 miles, and drains an area of 48,259 square miles. The river forms a portion of the international boundary between the United States and Mexico, and has formed a river delta in the Gulf of Mexico. The Rio Grande rises in the San Juan Mountains of Colorado, and is a fast-moving cold-water stream for much of its initial length. In Texas, the river flattens into a slow-moving and meandering waterway. The river is an important source of irrigation, although occasionally low amounts of Rocky Mountain snowmelt can limit the amount of water available.
