Fred and Loucille Dahmer Caddo Lake Preserve

Caddo Lake © Leroy Williamson

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The Caddo Lake Preserve supports the state's most diverse native fish population and provides habitat for more than 40 rare animals and plants. The lake also contains the best wood duck breeding grounds in Texas. It is not open to visitors.

Location
The preserve is located near Uncertain, Texas.

Size
About 1,000 acres in four separate parcels

What to See: Plants
Cado Lake Preserve has a cypress swamp containing American lotus, lily pads.

What to See: Animals
The preserve has large-mouth and white bass, crappie and over 70 other species of fish.

Caddo Lake © Leroy Williamson

Several different species of butterflies are found in the area:

• Swallowtails including pipevine swallowtail, zebra swallowtail, black swallowtail, giant swallowtail, Eastern tiger swallowtail, spicebush swallowtail
• Brush-footed butterflies such as grass skippers, spread-wing skippers, satrys, monarch, leafwings, admirals, emperors, fritillaries
• Gossamer- wing butterflies such as harvesters, hairstreaks, blues
• Whites and sulfur butterflies

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife is working to create the Caddo Lake National Wildlife Refuge, which will initially conserve another 7,172 acres of the critical habitat.

canoer on Caddo Lake © Lynn Mc Bride/The Nature Conservancy

Why the Conservancy Selected This Site  
The Caddo Lake preserve was created in March 2001 and dedicated to the memory of the late Fred and Loucille Dahmer. The Dahmers lived at Taylor Island on Caddo Lake and spent much of their lives exploring and photographing the lake and, during their last 20 years, working tirelessly to protect its fragile wetlands.

What the Conservancy Has Done/Is Doing
The Nature Conservancy of Texas became involved in efforts to conserve the lake in 1990, when local landowner Robert McCurdy donated 478 acres. This was followed by another donation of 589 acres by Judge John Paul Harkey. Eventually, the Conservancy and Texas Parks & Wildlife Department joined forces to purchase 7,000 acres of Caddo Lake to add to Caddo Lake State Park

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife is working to create the Caddo Lake National Wildlife Refuge, which will initially conserve another 7,172 acres of the critical habitat.