The Clearwater Lake project was completed by the U.S. Corps of Engineers in 1948 as part of a comprehensive flood control project for the White and lower Mississippi Rivers. The terrain in the area is mostly bluffs around the 1,630 surface acres of the lake. Created by an impoundment of the Black River; Clearwater Lake is known for its deep, clear water and steep banks. Be mindful that Clearwater Lake can raise quickly during heavy and extended periods of rain; the flood control storage capacity can be more than six times its normal pool.