Lake Mark Kramer
Pasadena lake renamed for longtime conservationist
Lake Mark Kramer, formerly know as Mud Lake, was renamed in 2020 in honor of Armand Bayou Nature Center Chief Naturalist, Mark Kramer, for a lifetime of unparalleled work and dedication to the preservation and restoration of wetland habitat along Armand Bayou.
The lake forms the mouth of the Armand Bayou watershed, which is named for the famed Houston naturalist, Armand Yramategui. It is surrounded by Armand Bayou Nature Center’s 2,500 acres of Texas coastal tallgrass prairie, wetland marshes, and coastal flatwood forests. Armand Bayou and Lake Mark Kramer provide vital habitat to more than 370 species of wildlife, including vulnerable and previously endangered animals such as eagles, osprey, brown pelicans, otters and alligators. Fish in the waterway are abundant and include gar, bass, catfish, seatrout, and even redfish! Most importantly, the green infrastructure of these wetland habitats protect our local community by filtering pollution and mitigates flood damage by holding and absorbing rainfall.
A virtual dedication ceremony was held on January 11, 2021 by Mayor of Pasadena, Jeff Wagner, and was attended by over 100 guests including several prominent members of the environmental preservation community, as well as Harris County Precinct 2 Commissioner Adrian Garcia’s office.
Sunrise over Lake Mark Kramer
“The decision was easy to put a new name on Mud Lake, which links Armand Bayou to Clear Lake. No single person has done more for the health of the environment of the ecology along Armand Bayou, which is a tributary of Mud Lake. This is to honor more than 30 years of work in conservation and restoration along the bayou. Even though Mark is retired, he still serves as our director of conservation and chief naturalist emeritus. He is officially retired, but we still consider him a part of our team”
Mark Kayaking on Lake Mark Kramer
“I have been a student of Armand Bayou for more than 40 years. With mud under my toenails, I have found a lifetime of happiness being immersed in this lovely place. I’m deeply grateful for this unexpected honor.”