A beloved, but mercury-contaminated lake

Because of its unparalleled beauty, Caddo Lake is a beloved lake in Texas/Louisiana. Located along the Texas – Louisiana border, Caddo Lake is used by both recreational and subsistence anglers. Unfortunately, the aquatic organisms in the lake are highly contaminated with mercury from atmospheric sources and the lake has fish consumption advisories. Mercury contamination in Caddo Lake is of particular concern because the lake supports a high level of biodiversity, including rare and threatened species (see also Caddo Lake Institute, 2009), which may be negatively impacted by mercury exposure.

Click here to find out more information about the potential risk to humans and songbirds from mercury in Caddo Lake and how mercury biomagnifies as it moves up the food chain.