The Piney Woods of East Texas are a vast forest ecoregion spanning East Texas, southern Arkansas, Louisiana and Oklahoma. Here you will find predominantly pines and hardwood trees.
The Piney Woods are a protected natural haven for various plant and animal species. Visitors to this beautiful area can take pleasure in bird-watching, camping, hiking, fishing, swimming or other outdoor activities.
Neches River
The Neches River winds its way through East Texas’ pine wooded heartland, earning itself the moniker “The Last Wild River in East Texas.” For 416 miles it has become one of the state’s most sought-after fishing spots with species like white bass, channel catfish and largemouth bass prevalent there.
Fish are drawn to the Neches River during spring for its large white bass run. Summer brings blue and channel catfish in abundance while alligator gar can be found in flooded bottomlands during irregular spring flooding.
One reason this river is so beloved is the Big Thicket National Preserve located along its banks. Here, you’ll find over 200 species of trees, 47 mammals and 300 bird species to explore.
For decades, the Forest Service has worked to protect this area, which provides an abundance of habitats for a wide variety of wildlife species. Through a conservation easement management scheme, this vital river bottomland wildlife habitat will remain protected for future generations.
Cypress trees along the Neches River are some of Texas’ oldest and largest, but other tree species also thrive here. Sycamore, cottonwood and pecan trees can be seen growing alongside these majestic cypresses.
This area is home to an array of amphibians and frogs, as well as reptiles and birds of various species.
Some of these animals are endangered, such as the red-cockaded woodpecker and great horned owl. You can also spot osprey, ducks and deer around.
For those interested in discovering more about the wildlife of the piney woods, they can join an educational tour at the Nature Center. Guides will show you each species’ habitat on Saturdays from March through November.
Explore the natural history of the Neches River by visiting the Neches River Heritage Museum in Beaumont. Operated by The Big Thicket Association, this museum provides a range of activities such as guided boat tours on The Ivory Bill, wildlife viewing and educational talks.
Angelina River
The Angelina River is a major East Texas river that flows through Jasper County and boasts white sand beaches, tall Pine trees and tranquil creeks. Additionally, this body of water is renowned for its excellent fishing opportunities.
The river plays a critical role in the ecosystem of the piney woods, offering shelter from wind and rain to wildlife. Its waters provide home to numerous game fish such as catfish and black bass, bluegill, redear sunfish and crappie.
In addition to its recreational value, the Angelina River also holds historical importance. It was named for a Native American woman who assisted Spanish and French explorers during the early 1700s.
She was a leader in her village, according to explorer accounts from the 17th century. She served as guide, mediator and interpreter between Spain and France; additionally, she is credited with saving an intrepid French officer named Francois Simars de Bellisle.
Her name has become synonymous with both a river and an East Texas county, testament to her remarkable character. A statue honoring Angelina can be found in Lufkin, the county seat.
Lumber was a major economic source in Angelina County until the Great Depression of the 1930s. It had an impact on many small towns such as Homer, Baker, Clawson, Emporia, Hamlet, Lay, Popher, Yuno, Baber, Davisville Renova and Retrieve.
But the lumber boom proved short lived, and soon enough the county returned to its traditional small farming and stock raising industries. By 1933, more than 2,500 residents were on relief rolls.
Today, the Angelina River has become a sought-after recreational spot for paddlers in East Texas. You can access it from various points like Sam Rayburn Reservoir and B.A Steinhagen Reservoir as well as Lufkin itself which lies adjacent to the river.
Angelina River fishing is a popular summer and winter activity, boasting excellent year-round populations of catfish and largemouth bass. Additionally, it supports several species that are less common elsewhere in the state like white bass and bluegill.
Sabine River
The Sabine River is a major waterway encircled by pine woods in Texas and Louisiana. It forms the border between these states, eventually draining into Sabine Lake – an estuary on the Gulf of Mexico.
The river runs for 510 miles (820 kilometers), its headwaters in Hunt County. As it flows southeast and south, narrowing near its mouth to form Sabine Lake (29deg59′ N, 93deg47′ W), the river passes through Port Arthur before draining into the Gulf of Mexico through Sabine Pass.
The Sabine River offers many twists and turns, making it a challenging river to navigate. Boaters and kayakers alike should exercise caution when out on the water as this could become an unpredictable obstacle course.
Despite these challenges, the Sabine River remains an important recreational and commercial waterway. It features several reservoirs such as Toledo Bend Reservoir and Lake Tawakoni that serve for fishing, boating, swimming, and other activities.
Furthermore, the Sabine River offers an ideal habitat for wildlife. It’s home to fish such as catfish and largemouth bass, plus several types of frogs and snakes.
This river provides a prime habitat for alligators. During spring spawning, you can spot alligator gar along its main channel and tributaries.
However, water scarcity can threaten the health of bottomland hardwood forests. We studied how hydrologic modification and groundwater withdrawal affected LST heterogeneity within a floodplain forest on the upper Sabine River floodplain using MODIS land-surface temperature data between 2008 and 2014.
This study revealed that lower LST pixels were further from the river and at higher topographic locations than their high LST counterparts. Furthermore, increasing rainfall-derived soil moisture correlated with decreasing heterogeneity of LST between pixels; however, there was only a weak association between Sabine River stage and heterogeneity. Finally, low LST pixels were more common in areas with relatively high topography and abundant vegetation cover.
Trinity River
The Trinity River, flowing from its confluence of Elm and West forks near Dallas to its mouth in Galveston Bay, is Texas’ longest major river. It provides water to two major metropolitan areas in the upper reaches of the state – Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex and Houston as well as smaller cities and rural communities.
Though it has long been a source of enjoyment to many, the Trinity River Valley is increasingly threatened by environmental issues such as pollution, flooding, drought and groundwater depletion.
Therefore, Trinity River Authority has created a comprehensive Master Plan to safeguard its water quality, safety and habitat. This Master Plan is regularly reviewed and revised by its Board of Directors.
The plan identifies areas that require protection and provides recommendations for dealing with them. It contains specific guidelines to prevent contamination caused by chemicals, waste, oil or other pollutants. Furthermore, it lists aquifers and their potential effects from pumping on them.
In the Trinity River basin, several rivers such as Lower Trinity, East Fork and Elm Fork can be considered aquifers. These dynamic systems can be pumped at higher rates than they can recharge, leading to higher costs, delays in pumping operations and land subsidence.
Furthermore, the plan warns that water from the Trinity River is at risk for contamination due to wastewater from Dallas-Fort Worth’s metroplex draining into it and polluting it.
The plan also outlines a series of filtration systems to remove these pollutants. These are the initial steps in an effort to rid the river of hazardous agents.
Although the Master Plan is an important first step, it is essential to continue monitoring and improving the river. Doing this will guarantee that the river remains healthy for generations to come.
One way to enhance the river is by increasing recreation opportunities and encouraging healthy habits among citizens. This can be accomplished through public events, volunteerism and conservation initiatives.
