Caddo Lake National Wildlife Refuge Expanded Through Federal Designation Process
Caddo Lake Institute secured 185 additional acres for critical East Texas wetland protection
KARNACK, TEXAS – The Caddo Lake Institute (CLI) announced today the expansion of the Caddo Lake National Wildlife Refuge by 185 acres through land acquisition by CLI. The refuge expansion represents a significant conservation victory for one of Texas’s most ecologically important watersheds and the state’s only natural lake. Caddo Lake, designated as a Wetland of International Importance under the Ramsar Convention, serves as a critical habitat corridor in East Texas.
The expanded refuge will provide enhanced protection for hundreds of bird species, especially migratory birds, as well as the Cooper’s Hawk, the Spotted Salamander, the Louisiana Pigtoe, and more, while offering expanded opportunities for public recreation including wildlife viewing, photography, hiking, biking, horseback riding, boating, and hunting.
CLI’s strategic land acquisition and collaborative approach with federal partners demonstrates the power of local conservation organizations working alongside elected officials to achieve lasting environmental protection.
“This expansion reflects our long-standing commitment to protecting and improving Caddo Lake and its entire watershed,” said Laura-Ashley Overdyke, Executive Director of the Caddo Lake Institute. “By working with the federal government and wildlife agencies, we’ve secured permanent protection for this critical habitat while ensuring the public can continue to experience and learn from this remarkable ecosystem.”
The refuge expansion comes at a crucial time as Caddo Lake faces ongoing environmental pressures and emphasizes the importance of collaborative conservation efforts in protecting Texas’s natural heritage.
The Caddo Lake Institute is a nonprofit organization founded 30 years ago and dedicated to protecting and improving Caddo Lake and its entire watershed while maintaining the cultural and economic integrity of the East Texas region. Through over $4 million in scientific research and restoration efforts, CLI has pioneered innovative environmental flow regimes that balance the needs of people, industry, and nature, working collaboratively with federal agencies including the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Texas Parks and Wildlife, and The Nature Conservancy to preserve Caddo Lake’s status as Texas’s only natural lake and a Wetland of International Importance. For more information about the Caddo Lake Institute and its conservation work, visit www.caddolakeinstitute.org.