Amistad Dam's construction began in December 1964 and was completed in November 1969, after which the reservoir was filled, flooding a series of valleys around the confluence of the Rio Grande and the Devils River. The dam and the reservoir are managed by the International Boundary and Water Commission, which was established in 1889 by the governments of the United States and Mexico to maintain the border, allocate river waters between the two nations, and provide for flood control and water sanitation. Recreational uses During the construction of the dam, the land around the American shore of the coming reservoir was designated as the Amistad National Recreation Area. The lake provides year-round, water-based recreation opportunities, including boating, fishing, swimming, scuba diving, and water-skiing, as well as other recreational opportunities for picnicking, camping, and hunting. The area is rich in archaeology and rock art, and contains a wide variety of plant and animal life. The lake is home to yearly nationally televised fishing tournaments. It is also near the flight path of USAF trainers. See also Falcon International Reservoir References External links Fishing on Amistad Reservoir National Park Service: Amistad National Recreation Area Reservoirs in Mexico Reservoirs in Texas Devils River (Texas) Rio Grande Landforms of Coahuila Bodies of water of Val Verde County, Texas Mexico–United States border Protected areas of Val Verde County, Texas Reservoirs and dams in National Park Service units 1969 establishments in Mexico 1969 establishments in Texas Important Bird Areas of Mexico