Poplar Tree Lake

Before the 1930s, the area that would become Poplar Tree Lake was a sprawling bottomland of hardwood forests along the Loosahathchie River.^[3] The region had swampy soils and abundant poplar trees and cottonwood groves. It had remained largely undeveloped and was prone to flash floods. In the early 20th century, conservationist Edward J. Meeman and State forester James. O. Hazard identified the land as an ideal area for reclamation.^[4] Prior to development of the lake, the area had no built infrastructure beyond minor trails used for hunting and logging.^[5]

Construction of the lake began in the mid-1930s as part of the New Deal. between 1935 and 1937, the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) built an earthen damn along the former creek to accompany the previously built reservoir.^[4] The Works Progress Administration (WPA) built six small log cabins along the shore to serve as a tourist destination along with a number of recreational facilities.^[6] By 1938, the 125-acre lake was officially completed and filled via runoff. The lake serves as a flood control measure for the surrounding state park and provides numerous opportunities for recreation.^[7]

The park is a protected nature area and largely faces few impacts from human interference. The lake provides habitat to multiple species and families of wildlife, including fish, insects, birds, trees, and more.

• Largemouth bass^[8]
• Spotted bass^[8]
• Bluegill
• Redear sunfish
• Channel catfish^[8]

• Yellow-bellied sapsucker^[9]
• Brown creeper^[9]
• Hermit thrush
• Snow goose^[9]
• American bald eagle^[9]
• Mississippi kite
• Great blue heron^[9]
• Osprey^[9]

• White-tailed deer^[10]
• Wild turkey^[10]
• Beaver^[10]
• Otter
• Fox^[10]
• Bobcat
• Raccoon^[10]

• Swamp poplar^[11]
• Cottonwood
• Balsam poplar^[12]
• Bald cypress^[12]
• Tupelo^[12]
• Oak
• American beech^[12]
• Hickory^[12]
• Sweetgum^[12]
• American featherfoil
• Bay starvine
• Copper iris
• Cedar elm^[12]

35°18′18″N 90°03′45″W / 35.30500°N 90.06250°W / 35.30500; -90.06250