The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries is continuing a long-term effort to restore native aquatic vegetation and improve fish habitat throughout the Saline-Larto Complex.
LDWF Inland Fisheries biologists recently planted coontail, a native aquatic plant that provides important habitat for fish and other aquatic wildlife.
The plants were placed inside 10 protective enclosures near Open Bayou, Little Saline Bayou and Shad Lake. The enclosures are designed to protect the newly planted vegetation from being eaten while it has an opportunity to become established.
Healthy native aquatic vegetation serves several important functions within a fishery. It provides nursery areas for young fish, shelter from predators and feeding areas while also supporting insects and other organisms that form part of the aquatic food chain.
Established vegetation can also create additional areas for anglers to target fish.
LDWF has been working to re-establish native aquatic vegetation throughout the Saline-Larto Complex since 2022.
While officials say habitat recovery takes time, vegetation surveys conducted in 2026 are showing encouraging signs. Biologists have documented the continued presence of American lotus and white-water lily, along with the discovery of bladderwort in the Shad Lake area.
The latest coontail planting represents another step in the department’s effort to restore and enhance native fish habitat throughout the complex.
LDWF biologists plan to continue monitoring the newly planted areas and conducting annual vegetation surveys to determine how well native plants are recovering over time.
The Saline-Larto Complex, which includes Saline Lake, Larto Lake, Shad Lake and interconnected waters, is an important recreational fishery in central Louisiana. The ongoing habitat work is intended to improve conditions for fish and other aquatic wildlife while supporting the quality of the fishery for future generations of anglers.