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.

ADOPT A PADDLEFISH

Caddo Lake Institute has partnered with the Shreveport Aquarium to restock the Louisiana side of Caddo lake with prehistoric paddlefish. The partnership has already yielded one batch of paddlefish successfully released Spring of 2019 and 2020!

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!

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 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.

GENERAL OPERATING FUNDS

Federal funds and funds from many foundations obtained by CLI generally cannot be used to cover the costs of overhead and for the type of work required to plan and design CLI’s projects. Such costs are not included in the projected expenses above.

We need $40,000 per year for such expenses.