Caddo Lake started out as bayous, creeks, and ponds residing on a flood plain. For thousands of years the Caddo Indians inhabited this land farming and hunting. The formation of the lake was caused by a natural log jam formed where the Big Cypress Bayou and the Red River meet in northern Louisiana. This log jam known as the "Great Raft" helped to premanantly flood the area known as the Cypress basin. In 1835, a steamboat captain named Henry Shreve was commisioned by the US government to remove the "Great Raft". His efforts opened up enough of the log jam to allow steamboats access to Caddo.

With the "Great Raft" open steamboat traffic increased and brought with it prosperity. Ports were established along the waterways of the lake. Cotton became a major crop and was shipped by boat from ports such as Jefferson and Port Caddo. Things continued to prosper until around 1873 when the rest of the Red River Raft was removed. This was the beginning of the end for the water ports. The water levels slowly began to fall keeping the steamboats from traversing the lake and transporting cargo. Jay Gould and the arrival of his railroad sealed the fate of ports like Jefferson and ended the era of steamboats on the lake.

Today the lake is the only naturally formed lake in the state of Texas. It sits on the border of Louisiana and Texas and covers roughly 25, 400 acres. Caddo is home to large numbers of plant and wild life. Several of its animals are considered endangered or rare. Caddo's history is long and rich, many people continue the effort to protect its natural beauty for future generations.

May there always be good people who continue this cause.