In fact, the state had only one natural lake, Caddo Lake in East Texas, that was formed by a log jam. A permanent dam was installed at the lake in the early 20th century.

In a state famous for its massive reservoirs, Caddo Lake is frequently cited as the only naturally formed lake in Texas. Located on the border between Texas and Louisiana, it was originally created by the "Great Raft"—a massive, 100-mile-long natural log jam on the Red River that backed up water into the surrounding cypress forests. While a dam was eventually installed in the early 20th century for flood control and to maintain water levels, its origin remains distinctively natural. Another notable mention is Green Lake in Calhoun County, which is one of the state's largest natural freshwater lakes, though it is much shallower and less famous than Caddo. Most of Texas's other 7,000+ lakes, including popular spots like Lake Travis or Lake Texoma, are entirely man-made reservoirs created by damming rivers for power, irrigation, and flood prevention. This makes the ancient, Spanish-moss-draped bayous of Caddo Lake a unique ecological and historical treasure in the Texas landscape.