East Cove National Wildlife Refuge is a protected estuarine marsh in southwestern Louisiana, south of Lake Charles on the southeast shore of Calcasieu Lake. Located in the Cameron Creole Watershed and accessible only by boat, it is managed as part of the Southwest Louisiana National Wildlife Refuge Complex. The refuge’s wetland is shaped by active water management, including 19 miles of lake shore levee and five water control structures that regulate water levels and salinity. These conditions sustain productive fishery resources such as fish, shrimp, and crabs, while also providing habitat for migratory birds and alligators.