Dallas, TX
A targeted approach to dredging White Rock Lake
The long wait for dredging White Rock Lake has been a source of frustration for Dallas residents. It should have been done years ago, but the city has been putting this task on the back burner.
Historically, removing sediment and other materials from the lake has been done about every two decades. But the last time was in 1998.
A full dredging of the lake, however, is a cost-prohibitive process in today’s dollars, estimated at between $53 million and $80 million, according to a 2020 feasibility study.
The sediment buildup is harmful to the overall health of the lake. Shallow waters make it unsafe for recreation, boating and sailing. White Rock Lake literally breathes life into Dallas; it is a vital community resource for our city. We need to get this dredging done.
The good news is that the city is rethinking its approach. Instead of taking on the entire lake all at once, it is moving forward with a targeted dredging strategy recommended by the project’s engineering consultant. This program would focus on specific areas with high sedimentation, and it will be scaled to the available budget. This is a pragmatic approach that could work.
Dallas has a pattern of delaying maintenance and operations, with its own City Hall as Exhibit A. It has been nearly three decades since sediment buildup was removed from the lake. The idea of making this a permanent program with phased dredging every five to seven years is something we can get behind. It would create a badly needed maintenance process.
The City Council recently approved a supplemental agreement expanding its engineering services contract with Freese and Nichols, the firm that has been providing design and engineering work on White Rock Lake since 2022. It will be tasked with identifying and prioritizing dredge areas based on available funding. But actual dredging would not begin before December 2028, when this design phase is completed.
The city has $2 million in federal funding for the design phase and voters approved up to $20 million as part of the 2024 bond package. Still, funding is insufficient for a full dredging of the lake.
Council member Paula Blackmon, who represents District 9, where White Rock Lake is located, told us she tried looking into federal and state funding to dredge the lake, but those efforts were unsuccessful. The reason is that White Rock Lake is a recreational lake. It is difficult to compete for funding with lakes that provide drinking water to communities struggling with drought, she told us.
Blackmon said this targeted dredging approach was ultimately forced by economics, but it makes sense in the long term. It is a sustainable method guided by data that will lead to improved maintenance.
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A large fire destroyed an apartment complex in Dallas after crews responded to reports of a gas leak. Authorities say at least three people, including a child, were killed. Other residents are unaccounted for.
Published On 29 May 2026
Lauren Drewes Daniels
Arguments about the best doughnut shops can get heated. We have our own personal top 10 favorites. And we have issues with DoorDash’s list below. So, let’s dive right into this sweet, round confection with a hole in the middle.
For National Donut Day, which is Friday, June 5, for all those who celebrate, DoorDash has a roundup of the top 100-rated small and medium-sized donut shops on DoorDash. The list includes local businesses across 86 cities and 25 states.
To be considered for the Donut Day Dozens list, the bakery must be small or medium-sized, have fewer than 10 stores, and have at least 1,000 reviews. The shops with the highest average consumer ratings from April 2025 to April 2026 were chosen.
Of the 21 donut shops chosen across Texas, 13 are located in North Texas.
North Texas bakeries named best doughnuts
- Morning Donuts – Dallas, TX
- Baker’s Dozen Donuts – Cross Roads, TX
- Busy B’s Bakery – North Richland Hills, TX
- Donut House Plano – Plano, TX
- Donut King #3 – Fort Worth, TX
- Eagle Donuts – Crowley, TX
- Earnest Donuts – Lewisville, TX
- Four Seasons Donuts – Irving, TX
- Jin’s Donuts – Farmers Branch, TX
- Master Donut – The Colony, TX
- Stacy Donuts – McKinney, TX
- TWISTY DONUTS MANSFIELD – Mansfield, TX
A few misses
There are some obvious big misses here. Like La Rue in Trinity Groves, which apparently was left off because it has fewer than 1,000 reviews. We awarded this chef-driven shop Best Doughnuts in 2025 for pushing out top-tier confections every morning and a seasonal menu that will both win you over and break your heart. They’re also using only beef tallow in the fryers now.
And no Jarams? The shop on Preston Road has a 4.7 average rating on DoorDash, and it appears 4.8 was the cutoff. The family-owned Jarams is one of the best shops in Dallas.
As is Detour Donuts in Frisco. This is run by an ambitious young baker who draws long lines for themed doughnuts and a rotating menu.
Beyond North Texas …
The rest of the awarded donut shops were mostly located in Houston, with a sprinkle in San Antonio. Shops were listed in alphabetical order, and not with any sort of numbered ranking system.
- Best Donuts – Humble, TX
- Southern Maid Donuts – Humble, TX
- DAWN DONUTS – League City, TX
- Max Donuts – Houston, TX
- Nom Donuts – Houston, TX
- Snowflake donuts – Houston, TX
- ST Donuts – San Antonio, TX
- Mom’s Donut Shop – Gainesville, TX
- The Donut Palace – Lufkin, TX
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