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Lake Livingston Friends of Reservoirs, Sam Houston EC Revitalize Lake Livingston Shoreline

Lake Livingston Friends of Reservoirs, Sam Houston EC Revitalize Lake Livingston Shoreline


One of Sam Houston Electric Cooperative’s seven guiding principles is Concern for Community. We work for the sustainable development of our community through projects supported by our membership, for example, by supporting local charities and non-profit organizations.

The Lake Livingston Friends of Reservoirs is a project started by Tom McDonough and the Piney Woods Chapter of the Texas Master Naturalists and Texas Black Bass Unlimited. This project starts by building tanks at area schools to grow American Water Willow, a native plant. After the plants have grown, they are planted along the shoreline of Lake Livingston.

“The main reason [this project] is important is to create cover for fish, birds and reptiles,” McDonough said. “There are very few frogs in the lake because the tadpoles get eaten right away. When fish spawn, fingerlings go to the shoreline for protection, and here, there is no protection for them.”

On September 23, volunteers joined the Friends of Reservoirs to plant more than 300 American Water Willow Plants grown by the students at Onalaska Senior High School and Livingston High School. Onalaska Senior High School and Livingston High School received the first tanks. Coldsprings-Oakhurst has also begun the process of starting their tanks.

“This project is going to help the local economy, increase filtration of the water and anchor soil, which will decrease soil erosion,” McDonough said. “It will help the local economy, because it will help make our lake more attractive to large fishing tournaments. It will also help with the tourism and with the birding. We are bringing Lake Livingston back to life.”

For information on our seven guiding principles, visit our website, www.samhouston.net.