Caddo Lake Institute, Inc.

What Caddo Lake Institute, Inc. does

Caddo Lake Institute, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit scientific and educational organization founded in 1993 and headquartered in Shreveport, Louisiana, with operational presence in Karnack, Texas. The organization exists to protect the ecological, cultural, and economic integrity of Caddo Lake — a 25,000-acre wetland on the Texas-Louisiana border that holds the only Ramsar Wetland of International Importance designation in Texas. Its programmatic portfolio comprises six core programs: an Environmental Flows Project that secured a historic agreement with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on dam operations at Lake O' the Pines and is described as a national model; a Paddlefish Restocking Program that releases juvenile fish via partnerships with Shreveport Aquarium, USFWS, and Texas Parks and Wildlife; Invasive Species Management (notably Giant Salvinia biocontrol in collaboration with Texas A&M); 30+ years of Water Quality Monitoring producing one of the state's longest lake datasets; Wetland Restoration tied to the creation of the Caddo Lake National Wildlife Refuge from the former Longhorn Army Ammunition Plant; and stewardship of the Ramsar designation itself.

The organization's underlying 'technology' is scientific rather than digital: longitudinal environmental monitoring data, hydrological modeling (commissioned from Hazen and Sawyer), biological control research, and inter-agency coordination. It is co-founded by Don Henley of the Eagles, led by Executive Director Laura-Ashley Overdyke, and operates with 1–10 employees. Revenue is generated through individual donations ($25–$500 tiers, plus a $1,000 Adopt-a-Paddlefish program), foundation and government grants, donor events (Paddlefish Festival, Labor Day BBQ), planned giving / IRA QCDs, Amazon Smile, and earned media reach via a monthly Red River Radio show ('Conserving Earth', 565,000+ listeners in FY2022). Primary stakeholder segments are federal and state agencies (USACE, USFWS, EPA, TPWD, LA DWF), local landowners, individual donors, and regional communities along the Texas-Louisiana border.

Name

Caddo Lake Institute, Inc.

Legal name

Caddo Lake Institute, Inc.

Website

https://caddolakeinstitute.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1993

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Caddo Lake Institute is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1993 and headquartered in Shreveport, Louisiana, dedicated to protecting Caddo Lake, a Ramsar Wetland of International Importance on the Texas-Louisiana border. It delivers water flow management, paddlefish restocking, invasive species control, water quality monitoring, and wetland restoration programs in partnership with federal and state agencies, scientists, and local communities.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Wetland Conservation Services

NAICS

Administration of Conservation Programs (92412), Administration of Environmental Quality Programs (9241)

akta.pro primary industry

Conservation, Restoration & Biodiversity Services (Habitat, Wetlands, Riparian) (IMAMAJAH)

akta.pro secondary industry

Coastal & Marine Resources Administration (Oceans, Fisheries, Shorelines) (BPAIAMAI)

Keywords

• Wetland conservation
• Water flow management
• Species reintroduction
• Invasive species control
• Watershed restoration

Headquarters

HQ city

Shreveport

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: The organization relies primarily on donations from individuals who believe in protecting Caddo Lake. Donors can give via the website with various preset amounts ($25, $50, $100, $200, $500) or custom amounts. The organization is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization, making contributions tax-deductible.
2. Adopt a Paddlefish Program: Tax-deductible donation of $1,000 to adopt a paddlefish, which includes a visit with paddlefish experts at Shreveport Aquarium, naming and tagging the fish, and personally releasing it into Caddo Lake.
3. Paddlefish Festival: Revenue-generating event hosted at Shreveport Aquarium with food, activities, and educational programming around paddlefish conservation.
4. Estate Planning and Planned Giving: The organization encourages donors to include Caddo Lake Institute in their wills, providing sample language for estate planning documents.
5. Qualified Charitable Distributions: Accepts IRA charitable distributions for donors born before June 30, 1949, providing tax-free giving option for qualifying individuals.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Caddo Lake Institute, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that conserves, restores, and protects the Caddo Lake watershed through field programs including the Environmental Flows Project, a Paddlefish Restocking Program, invasive species management, water quality monitoring, and wetland restoration. The organization works in partnership with government agencies, local communities, and private landowners to deliver these conservation services.

Product overview

Caddo Lake Institute is a nonprofit scientific and educational organization (501(c)(3)) focused on wetland conservation rather than a technology product company. Its offerings consist of environmental conservation programs including the Environmental Flows Project (water release management to sustain ecosystem health), Paddlefish Restocking Program (species reintroduction in partnership with Shreveport Aquarium), Invasive Species Management (Giant Salvinia control using biological and chemical methods), Water Quality Monitoring (30+ years of data collection), Wetland Restoration (including Caddo Lake National Wildlife Refuge establishment), and Ramsar Wetland designation efforts. The organization also publishes the quarterly Caddo Lake Chronicle newsletter and offers an Adopt-a-Paddlefish donor program. These programs work together to protect the ecological integrity of Caddo Lake, an internationally recognized Ramsar Wetland spanning the Texas-Louisiana border.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Environmental Flows Project A program focused on analyzing and managing the water flows of the Caddo Lake watershed to support wetland health, water quality, and species habitat, delivered in partnership with government agencies and stakeholders.
• Paddlefish Restocking Program A species reintroduction program that restocks paddlefish in Caddo Lake to restore the native fishery and ecological function of the watershed.
• Invasive Species Management Field program to identify, monitor, and biologically control invasive species threatening the Caddo Lake wetland ecosystem, often in coordination with landowners and agencies.
• Water Quality Monitoring Ongoing monitoring of water quality in the Caddo Lake watershed to track ecosystem health, inform management decisions, and support partner agency efforts.
• Wetland Restoration Restoration of degraded wetland areas in the Caddo Lake watershed to re-establish native habitat and ecological function.
• Adopt-a-Paddlefish Program A $1,000 donor engagement program that lets individuals symbolically adopt a paddlefish in support of the institute's restocking and conservation work.

Quantifiable outcome

• 8,600 paddlefish released into the watershed (FY2022)
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

19 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Shreveport AquariumcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 March 2019Partnership to raise and release prehistoric paddlefish into Caddo Lake. The aquarium rears paddlefish babies until ready for release, reaching thousands of visitors annually with education about local conservation.
• National GeographicminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 28 January 2019Featured in National Geographic Explorer Program segment 'Lake Eating Monster' about Giant Salvinia and conservation efforts, reaching wide audience with conservation messaging.
• U.S. Army Corps of EngineerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHistoric agreement with the Corps to change the way it operates its dam upstream of Caddo Lake and raise the level of Lake O' the Pines to provide additional water. The Corps also placed gravel spawning shoals in Big Cypress Bayou to support paddlefish habitat. This is a national model for environmental flows.
• U.S. Fish & Wildlife ServicecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in paddlefish restocking program, wildlife refuge management, and habitat restoration. USFWS Inland Fisheries division raises and releases juvenile paddlefish. Also manages the Caddo Lake National Wildlife Refuge.
• Texas Parks and Wildlife DepartmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in paddlefish releases, invasive species management including Giant Salvinia control, and salvinia weevil biocontrol research. Collaborates on paddling trails and recreational access.
• The Nature ConservancycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in implementing flow regimes designed to better mimic mother nature and improve habitat for plant and animal species including threatened freshwater mussels.
• Northeast Texas Municipal Water DistrictcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in implementing flow regime agreements and water stewardship efforts for the Cypress Basin, addressing water supply and environmental flows.
• Louisiana Department of Wildlife and FisheriescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in paddlefish restocking on the Louisiana side of Caddo Lake and wildlife conservation efforts, including supporting the first release of paddlefish on the Louisiana side.
• Natchitoches National Fish HatcherycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederal hatchery that releases juvenile paddlefish into Caddo Lake, including the June 2022 release of nearly 5,000 paddlefish.
• Collins AcademyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorks with schools in the region to use paddlefish as an educational instrument on natural sciences for youngsters. Led update to Caddo Lake National Heritage Area legislation proposal.
• Last Chance ForeverminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRaptor rehabilitation nonprofit that partners with CLI on eagle releases and wildlife conservation education. Recovers 150+ raptors annually for rehabilitation.
• Texan by NaturecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCLI named a Conservation Wrangler by Texan by Nature. Partnership includes Return on Conservation Index collaboration and filming with Texas Longleaf Team.
• Texas A&M Center for Invasive Species EradicationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborates on Giant Salvinia management through research on biological controls. CLI works with Texas A&M to prove salvinia weevils are effective for managing invasive species.
• Red River RadiocoreGTM or Marketing PartnerMonthly 'Conserving Earth' radio show aired 3rd Wednesday of each month at 6 pm CST, reaching 565,000+ listeners with conservation messages.
• Greater Caddo Lake AssociationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal nonprofit partner hosting annual Labor Day barbecue fundraiser and community events like Keep Caddo Natural clean-up at Johnson's Ranch.
• Caddo Bio-control AllianceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal nonprofit partner featured alongside CLI in National Geographic Explorer segment, working on biological control of invasive species.
• Hazen and SawyercoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerCommissioned independent hydrological analysis using Texas's Water Availability Model to assess impacts of proposed water transfers on Caddo Lake.
• U.S. Environmental Protection AgencycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOversees cleanup of Longhorn Army Ammunition Plant Superfund site, with EPA and contractors presenting status updates at Restoration Advisory Board meetings.
• Texas Longleaf TeamminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorks with CLI to establish and restore longleaf pine savannas through partnerships with public and private forest landowners in East Texas.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• The Nature Conservancy: Global nonprofit that implements flow regimes, freshwater conservation, and land protection strategies. Already a direct partner of CLI on Cypress Basin flow regimes, TNC operates at vastly greater scale but pursues substantially the same mission architecture (science-backed conservation, government engagement, landowner partnerships) on which CLI's model is built.
• Ducks Unlimited: Large nonprofit focused on wetland conservation and waterfowl habitat across North America. Shares CLI's wetland-restoration mission and engages federal/state agencies on water management, but operates at national scale rather than a single watershed.
• National Wildlife Federation: National nonprofit focused on wildlife and habitat conservation, with regional affiliate model and significant federal policy engagement. Comparable mission envelope to CLI but vastly larger scale and broader geographic scope.
• Trust for Public Land: National nonprofit focused on land and water conservation through acquisition, easements, and policy. Comparable to CLI's land protection work (e.g., the Longhorn Army Ammunition Plant transfer) but operates at national scale across many geographies.

Direct peers

• Chesapeake Bay Foundation: Regional nonprofit dedicated to restoring a single iconic watershed (the Chesapeake Bay) through science, advocacy, education, and habitat restoration. Highly analogous to CLI in mission structure, donor base, and policy-engagement model, but operates at significantly larger scale.
• Everglades Foundation: Nonprofit focused on restoring and protecting a single iconic wetland (the Everglades) through science, advocacy, and federal/state funding. Operates a similar science-to-policy pipeline and donor-supported conservation program model, but at much larger scale and budget.
• Galveston Bay Foundation: Texas-based nonprofit focused on preserving and enhancing Galveston Bay through habitat restoration, water quality monitoring, and education. Closest geographic peer to CLI in Texas, with overlapping programs in water quality data, marsh/wetland restoration, and species reintroduction (e.g., oyster reef work analogous to paddlefish stocking).
• Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation: Community-supported nonprofit dedicated to preserving a single coastal ecosystem through marine science, native landscaping, water quality, and policy advocacy. Directly comparable to CLI in operating model (small staff, single-watershed focus, science-led advocacy, donor-funded).
• Lake Champlain Committee: Membership-supported nonprofit dedicated to protecting Lake Champlain through water quality monitoring, invasive species control, and advocacy. Closely analogous to CLI in mission scope, scale, and reliance on volunteer engagement plus small-staff operations.

Regional players

• Texan by Nature: Texas-focused conservation nonprofit that convenes conservation organizations, agencies, and businesses; named CLI a Conservation Wrangler in 2024. Adjacent (catalyst) rather than directly comparable, but the most direct Texas conservation ecosystem peer.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCOzrRVhuTvNKyfZFoPzd8JQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/caddolakeinstitute
• Xx.com/CaddoLakeInst

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Caddo Lake Institute, Inc.