Project Description
Re-operation of Lake O' the Pines dam to restore environmental flows to Big Cypress Bayou and Caddo Lake downstream. Current needs are 1) monitoring of fish community and floodplain response to flow releases (and the concurrent re-introduction of paddlefish), 2) refinement of engineering tools (HEC-RAS, HEC-EFM) needed to evaluate further potential changes to flow management, 3) integration of freshwater mussels and geomorphology/sediment into the monitoring and adaptive management framework.
Conservation Area
Northeast Texas Rivers Native Fish Conservation AreaNFCA Objectives
- Conduct monitoring to evaluate, adapt and refine conservation actions
- Conduct research to fill critical information gaps
- Develop conservation demonstration areas
- Organize networks of public and private landowners
- Protect and maintain intact, healthy habitats
- Restore impacted habitats
- Restore stream and habitat connectivity
Restoration of the flow regime to 30 miles of Big Cypress Bayou for the benefit of at least four SGCN fishes, two SGCN freshwater mussels, and one SGCN reptile. Connection to other ongoing partnership-based conservation efforts in the watershed.
The Nature Conservancy, US Army Corps of Engineers, Caddo Lake Institute, Northeast Texas Municipal Water District, Texas Parks and Wildlife Dept., US Fish and Wildlife Service
US Army Corps of Engineers (matching funds needed), US Fish and Wildlife Service, private foundations and donors