Caddo Lake cleanup aims to restore beauty and ecological balance

HARRISON County, Texas (KTAL/KMSS) — The Greater Caddo Lake Association of Texas is hosting a cleanup event on Caddo Lake.

Caddo Lake, named for the Caddo Indian tribe, is the only natural lake in Texas and home to the largest Cypress forest in the world. Caddo is over 26,000 acres, harbors over 70 species of fish, and is home to more than 200 species of birds.

Caddo is not just important for its ecology. Due to its location on the Texas-Louisiana border, Caddo is a popular destination for recreation in both states, attracting a large number of tourists to hike, kayak, and fish each year.

Texas and Louisiana cooperate to make the lake as accessible as possible. While a fishing license from the state you are in is required to fish from the shore, a license from either state grants access to the entire lake. Texas also lets everyone fish without a license at all state park,s thanks to a program by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.

This event includes giveaways, a live band, and Yall’s Place food truck. Participants will help remove trash from the lake. Public waterways belong to everyone. This is an opportunity to contribute to the upkeep of a public resource.

The event will take place on Saturday, July 19. Registration begins at 9:00 a.m. and the event starts at 10:00 a.m. Bring your boat to Johnson’s Ranch Marina and help keep the lake clean for everyone to enjoy.