Buffalo Lake National Wildlife Refuge, National Wildlife Refuge in Randall County, Texas

Buffalo Lake National Wildlife Refuge covers 7,664 acres (31.02 km2) in Randall County, Texas, where shortgrass prairie meets marshes, woodlands, riparian habitat, croplands and water-carved canyon walls. Tierra Blanca Creek, an ephemeral stream that can dry out completely, runs through the canyon; Umbarger Dam impounds its flood-prone waters to form the shallow Buffalo Lake, whose ponded water provides roosting habitat for migrating birds.

The area took shape in 1938 when the federal government built Umbarger Dam as part of the Bankhead-Jones Farm Tenant Act, a program designed to address rural land use problems during the Dust Bowl era. The water it stored allowed the land to be set aside as a refuge for local plants and animals.

The refuge lies in a canyon cut by Tierra Blanca Creek, an ephemeral stream on the Llano Estacado whose flow varies greatly and can dry out completely. Its name comes from the shallow lake formed behind Umbarger Dam, where migrating birds roost. Birders watch waterfowl and waders along the wetlands in migration seasons.

A marked auto tour route lets you drive through different habitat types without needing to walk long distances, which makes it accessible for most visitors. Early morning is the best time to spot wildlife, and spring and fall bring the largest numbers of migratory birds.

A section of the refuge was designated as a National Natural Landmark because Tierra Blanca Creek carved a canyon there that exposes geological layers normally hidden beneath the flat prairie surface. The water level in the canyon changes with the seasons, so the landscape looks noticeably different depending on when you visit.