An abundance of water in Lake O' the Pines Reservoir due to recent rains will give scientists the opportunity they've been waiting for to study the impact of water releases into Big Cypress Bayou and Caddo Lake.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, in cooperation with the Northeast Texas Municipal Water District, is expected to begin systematically releasing water from a swollen Lake O' the Pines on Thursday to allow scientists to study how releases at different levels affect the movement of sediments and aquatic life in the Bayou and Caddo Lake. Scientists from the U.S. Geological Survey began placing instruments in Big Cypress Bayou on Tuesday to measure water levels, water quality and other data.