HOW YOU CAN HELP
Caddo Lake Institute is proud to work with local communities, organizations and individuals to protect the unique treasure that is Caddo Lake. Below are our current funding needs. We ask that you take a look with the hopes you may find a program you would like to support.
HEALTHY FLOWS
Caddo Lake Institute has directed a collaborative effort to return healthy in-stream flows to Caddo Lake and its watershed. The project is now a national model, with a historic agreement with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to change the way it operates its dam upstream of Caddo Lake and to raise the level of Lake O’ the Pines to provide additional water to Caddo Lake.
We spend up to $88,000 per year on the efforts of key scientists and staff to manage the flow regime.
WETLAND EDUCATION
CLI obtained the designation of much of Caddo Lake as a “Wetland of International Importance” under the Ramsar Convention, which is now signed by over 160 countries. We plan to expand the designation beyond the current 25,000 acres and use the designation to help raise public support for protection of the wetlands.
We need $40,000 to begin this expansion.
WATER QUALITY & POLLUTION MONITORING
For 30 years, CLI has monitored water quality in Caddo Lake and has assembled one of the best databases on trends in water quality in the state. The information has also helped CLI identify pollution hot spots and work with the responsible parties. CLI’s current goal is to expand the work to focus on nutrients that create toxic algae blooms and that “fertilize” giant salvinia and other aquatic invasive species. We do not have a funder for testing in Louisiana.
Our Water Quality Monitoring Requires $8,000 per year.
INVASIVE SPECIES MANAGEMENT
CLI has convened local, state and federal agencies through projects in Texas and Louisiana, along with scientists and the community. The easy movement of invasive species on boats and trailers from lake to lake requires more regional outreach. CLI has worked with Texas A&M to prove that biological controls, like salvinia weevils, are a large part of managing giant salvinia. CLI’s goals now are the continued operation of a new community based salvinia weevil rearing facility and the expansion of our outreach and education program.
$7,000 will cover our efforts in combating Giant Salvinia.
WETLAND RESTORATION
CLI is expanding its efforts to help protect publicly and privately owned wetlands in the Caddo Lake watershed. In the early 2000s, CLI convinced the Army to transfer 8000+ acres of land at its Longhorn Army Ammunition Plant to the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service to create the Caddo Lake National Wildlife Refuge to protect significant wetland on the property. CLI has also worked with landowners to restore and protect privately owned wetlands. The expanded effort will focus on these partnerships as well as new opportunities to restore and expand the Caddo Lake Wildlife Management Area (WMA). Restoration of wetland habitat not only protects areas for use by fish and wildlife, it can also provide additional areas for recreation and support the economic foundation of the local communities.
We need $50,000 for the work to expand the Refuge and WMA.
PADDLEFISH PARTNERSHIP
Caddo Lake Institute has partnered with the Shreveport Aquarium to restock the Louisiana side of Caddo Lake with prehistoric paddlefish. The partnership has yielded several healthy batches of teenage paddlefish that have been successfully released each Spring into Caddo Lake!
You a can adopt your very own Paddlefish with a $1,000 tax deductible donation to Caddo Lake Institute! CLI will set up a visit with you and the Shreveport Aquarium where you will meet with a Paddlefish expert to explore the history and importance of Paddlefish within our region. Then, you will officially meet, select, name and tag your very own Paddlefish! You will have the opportunity to personally release your Paddlefish in Caddo lake!
Be a part of local history – interact with a prehistoric fish – share in the joy of restoring the international treasure that is Caddo Lake. Adopt your Paddlefish today!