Scientists were reluctant to draw conclusions about the lake's long-term health because, they said, they do not necessarily know the full story.

For instance, hydrology specialist Brad Wilcox said the dam at Lake O' the Pines severely reduces high flows down Big Cypress Bayou to Caddo Lake and that the present flows are insufficient to keep the stream and lake healthy.

But Wilcox also said that Big Cypress only accounts for 30 percent of the water flowing into Caddo Lake. Nobody knows if that stream is more important to the lake than other tributaries, such as Black Bayou, which also flows into Caddo.

But many of the short-term conclusions seemed negative.