SALADO, Texas — Flooding last fall on Stillhouse Hollow Lake prompted the Centex Basshunters to conduct a shoreline cleanup conservation project in February.
“We have done the cleanup here many times over the years because the lake is prone to flooding,” said Ed Holloway, Centex Basshunters conservation director. The B.A.S.S. Nation club worked with Quinten Twiggs of the Army Corps of Engineers on this year’s cleanup project. Holloway said in the most recent flooding incident the lake rose 14 feet and deposited wood debris form the river onto the shoreline of the lower lake.
Club member Tommy Yester singlehandedly cleaned up the shoreline at Cedar Gap Park and a Corps of Engineers access area. “He owns a construction company and has his own skid steer loader so he went down to the lake and did the cleanup by himself,” Holloway said.
Twelve club members participated in a shoreline cleanup at River’s Bend Park on Feb. 23. Holloway said they spent five hours at the park piling up wood debris close to the lake in three large piles, which the Corps of Engineers would burn later when wind conditions would be favorable for burning. The conservation director estimated the club members collected “10 large dump truck loads” during the two cleanup days.
The club also annually participates in two other conservation projects, according to Holloway. Throughout the year club members participate in an Adopt a Highway cleanup of a stretch of road in the Stillhouse Hollow Lake dam area. The club also collects Christmas trees after Christmas and sinks the trees to enhance fish habitat at Stillhouse Hollow and Belton lakes.
