Bufallo Lake NWR

9,967 Views | 34 Replies | Last: 9 mo ago by CanyonAg77
CanyonAg77
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So one of our favorite places to drive/hike when we only have a little time, is this wildlife refuge south of the metropolis of Umbarger, Texas. I've posted a few photos before, but I thought I'd do a thread of Buffalo Lake (only) photos. So if you've ever been there, and have some photos to share, feel free to add them.

I may do the same thing for Palo Duro and Caprock Canyons, later.

https://www.fws.gov/refuge/buffalo_lake/

2012, Deer at sunset, with a flash hitting their eyes



Porcupine in tree



Close up



Deer

CanyonAg77
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Daughter and her husband hiking at BL



Son and daughter-in-law



South Pond bird blind after heavy rain



Really green after that rain

CanyonAg77
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CanyonAg77
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Controlled burn in March 2016




CanyonAg77
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CanyonAg77
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Aggie1
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My Class 1961 Palo Duro HS Senior Day was on Buffalo Lake when it was still full enough for a few catfish, and had plenty of ski boats, etc.
Got bad blisters on front of both thighs unused to direct exposure. Back, arms, etc., no problem as they were typically exposed during work, pickup windows, etc...

To go fishing we typically went to McClellan or Conchas - before Ute or Meredith became a reality...
CanyonAg77
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Some additions from today







Above image cropped and enlarged to see the deer jumping the fence.

CanyonAg77
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[url=https://flic.kr/p/PURXjc][/url]IMG_2598 by Drifter 77, on Flickr


[url=https://flic.kr/p/Q2Q4SQ][/url]IMG_2598 edit by Drifter 77, on Flickr


[url=https://flic.kr/p/Q2K2bY][/url]IMG_2600 by Drifter 77, on Flickr


[url=https://flic.kr/p/NRD6RM][/url]IMG_2600 edit by Drifter 77, on Flickr
CanyonAg77
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[url=https://flic.kr/p/Q656vc][/url]IMG_2602 by Drifter 77, on Flickr

[url=https://flic.kr/p/PS6UCm][/url]IMG_2615 by Drifter 77, on Flickr

[url=https://flic.kr/p/Q64UUc][/url]IMG_2616 by Drifter 77, on Flickr


CanyonAg77
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[url=https://flic.kr/p/Q64PqB][/url]IMG_2626 by Drifter 77, on Flickr

[url=https://flic.kr/p/PUReTB][/url]IMG_2628 by Drifter 77, on Flickr

[url=https://flic.kr/p/PwbfqC][/url]IMG_2629 by Drifter 77, on Flickr
CanyonAg77
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[url=https://flic.kr/p/PUR6u2][/url]IMG_2638 by Drifter 77, on Flickr

[url=https://flic.kr/p/Q64mfp][/url]IMG_2645 by Drifter 77, on Flickr


[url=https://flic.kr/p/PwaTJN][/url]IMG_2650 by Drifter 77, on Flickr

[url=https://flic.kr/p/NRwYqr][/url]IMG_2653 by Drifter 77, on Flickr
Capt_Crunch 14
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Took in that same sunset from Muleshoe NWR Saturday night. Didn't see any wildlife like that though. They have most of rhe refuge off limits for some reason. Protecting the cranes maybe?
CanyonAg77
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Capt_Crunch 14 said:

Took in that same sunset from Muleshoe NWR Saturday night. Didn't see any wildlife like that though. They have most of rhe refuge off limits for some reason. Protecting the cranes maybe?
I don't know. One of the best things about Muleshoe is seeing tons of cranes, so I can't imagine why they would close.
CanyonAg77
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Sending this to the top so I can post updates
hoodlum98
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Sometimes I miss the panhandle when I see pictures like this.
CanyonAg77
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Bobcat today. Pretty cool. I've only seen two in all the years I've lived here. This one and another one, also near Tierra Blanca Creek.



Aggie1
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very cool!! thanks
Bluecat_Aggie94
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Nice. My one trip to Buffalo Lake was kind of whiff of wildlife, but I want to get back out soon.

I saw a bobcat just north of Canyon on Buffalo Stadium Road, on the west side of 87 down in the draw on my way home a few months ago. It was just waltzing across the road in the afternoon after work.

CanyonAg77
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Buffalo Lake is great near sunset, as the deer are moving then. However, they are currently closing the gate at 6:00pm, which is Loony Tunes.

EDIT: Gate now on summer hours, open until 8pm. Exit gate open 24 hours.
CanyonAg77
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Haven't updated this in a while. Drove by this mesa on FM 168, not much to look at, I know.



But this guy was crossing it, on a trail about 1/2 way to the top



And his buddies were a little further along

CanyonAg77
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https://www.facebook.com/psventuresinc/posts/4877909218940916

Nice honor for a friend of ours, Aggie class of '78. She does a lot of nice work, a lot of it at Buffalo Lake, though this set of photos is mainly from New Mexico.
CanyonAg77
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Flash floods near Hereford last night, stream gage above BLNWR showed 7.5 feet, over 1600cfs last night. Will try to get photos later.
rilloaggie
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My mom texted me some photos from west of Hereford that showed hail that looked like snow drifts. I'll have to post those when I get to a PC
CanyonAg77
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The stream gage just upstream of BLNWR only goes to 9 feet. At 4pm today, it recorded 8.89 feet. It's been offline since. Lots of debris in the flash floods, so it may be destroyed.

For those of you familiar with BL, or look on Google Maps. There is a place called Stewart Marsh, that is on the south end of the lake. It has a berm to impound water for a wetland for migratory water fowl. Today at noon, it was about two feet deep (up from totally dry) and rising. Another two vertical feet, and it flows into the main lake.

The main lake has some water in the bottom, from rains closer to the lake. Will be fun to see what comes in from the floods upstream. Dam is about 2 miles downstream from the Marsh.

We've gotten over 12" of rain in the last two weeks, on our farm It's about 5 miles east of BL. So BL is incredibly green. Will try to post a few photos below to show how the lake is doing.





CanyonAg77
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Stewart Marsh area, including overflow ditch (paved road) that's not overflowing (as of noon 27 May) and may overflow tonight.





CanyonAg77
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Selenite crystals can be found in the berm at Stewart Marsh. Look in the dirt on either side of the road in the last photo above





CanyonAg77
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Top photo is from scenic overlook, about a half mile south of the dam. Photo is taken back to the southwest, toward Stewart Marsh




CanyonAg77
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CanyonAg77
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Water has filled Stewart Marsh and is now filling the main lake
CanyonAg77
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Sorry, no new photos yet, but they are apparently not going to let the lake fill any more. They are releasing water today.

SoulSlaveAG2005
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CanyonAg77 said:

https://www.facebook.com/psventuresinc/posts/4877909218940916

Nice honor for a friend of ours, Aggie class of '78. She does a lot of nice work, a lot of it at Buffalo Lake, though this set of photos is mainly from New Mexico.


Perusing the board for a perryton update and glanced over at this thread. Thanks for the kind words, she's amazing.
SoulSlaveAG2005
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CanyonAg77 said:

Sorry, no new photos yet, but they are apparently not going to let the lake fill any more. They are releasing water today.




Booo! They need to hold onto it… it may be another 30 years before you get these rains again!
Aggie1
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When I was a kid Buffalo Lake was the nearest place for boating - then McClellan and Concha's.
How has all the recent rains affected Buffalo Lake and Meridith? Enough to retur to glory days??
CanyonAg77
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Meredith is up several feet, but still a long way from full. Buffalo Lake maybe 25% full, first time not dry since 1978

McClellan dry, it hasn't been in the path of the storms.

I need to post pics, have been busy or out of town
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