Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge lies on the Big Mineral Arm of Lake Texoma, on the Red River between Oklahoma and Texas. Established in 1946, the Refuge includes 3,000 acres of marsh and water and 8,000 acres of upland and farmland. During fall, winter, and spring, the marshes and waters are in constant use by migrating and wintering waterfowl.
Hagerman NWR turns 72 years old in
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On September 8, 2011, the Grand Opening was held for the new Refuge Headquarters and Visitor Center. (Photo by Tami Howard)
In March 2012 the Refuge staff learned that the new building was awarded the Silver LEED Certification. More than 20 different design aspects helped reach this level of certification. To learn more click here.
What are the best land management practices for restoring pollinators in the Cross Timbers region of Texas and Oklahoma? Researchers from the University of Texas at Austin and Oklahoma State University hope to find answers to this question through a research project currently underway at various locations in the region, including HNWR. Plats on the refuge were selected to undergo prescribed burns with or without wildflower seeding. The prescribed burns took place on three plats in January. Two of the burned plats will not be seeded. In April, drilled wildflower and milkweed seeding was completed on Bennett Hill, one of the 5-acre burned plats, by Native American Seed. An additional plat will serve as the control during the two year comparison, as researchers evaluate the effect of these habitat management techniques on plant-pollinator communities.
Over 75% of all flowering plants are pollinated by hummingbirds, bats, bees, beetles, butterflies, and flies . A recent study by the National Academy of Sciences found declines in some wild pollinator populations. The main threats facing pollinators are habitat loss, degradation and fragmentation (https://www.fws.gov/pollinators/). (Article by Jean Flick)
Many visitors to the Refuge are interested in the history of the town of Hagerman, which was displaced when Lake Texoma was built. Please click History of Hagerman to read an article written by a descendant of one of the town "fathers".
Click Hagerman to read an article by Donna Hunt, that was published in July, 2012, in the Herald Democrat.
Several blog posts relating stories of life at Hagerman, Texas have been written also:
Hagerman Remembered Leaving Hagerman Story Behind a Name
Hagerman Cemetery is located on Hagerman Road, north of the Visitor Center. The cemetery was on high ground and was not relocated when Lake Texoma was built. Click for a photo essay showing grave markers of those born before 1900 who are buried in the Hagerman Cemetery.
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