Buddy and Ellen Temple honored for protecting the Neches River

October 14th, 2009 • Related • Filed Under

HOUSTON, TX – Over 300 people joined Houston Audubon in celebrating the Neches River and the importance of East Texas’ bottomland hardwood forests to millions of migratory songbirds, waterfowl, and resident birds at its Birds & Bottomlands Benefit October 1 in Houston.

Former U.S. Congressman Charlie Wilson, Ellen and Buddy Temple, Texas Conservation Alliance, and The Conservation Fund were honored for their efforts to protect the Neches River.

Lufkin Mayor Jack Gorden, who attended the event, described the importance of protecting the Neches. “The Neches River is a very important natural resource for migratory birds and other wildlife. It’s exciting to think about the conservation and eco-tourism partnership being formed between East Texas and Houston.”

“Houston Audubon is very pleased to honor Ellen, Buddy, Charlie, Texas Conservation Alliance, and The Conservation Fund for their tremendous efforts on behalf of the Neches.” “Because of the conservation work of these folks, future generations will enjoy hunting, fishing, birding, hiking, and canoeing in and along the Neches River bottomlands,” stated Gina Donovan, Houston Audubon’s executive director.

Buddy and Ellen Temple

Texas Conservation Alliance, along with a broad spectrum of interests, is proposing the Neches be studied for potential designation as a National Wild and Scenic River. “The Neches River sustains hardwood forests that provide jobs to the timber industry and exceptional habitat for waterfowl and wildlife,” said Janice Bezanson, executive director of the Alliance. “Designating it as a Wild and Scenic River would highlight its value as a tourist destination.”

Ellen Temple summed up the enthusiasm for protecting the Neches, “The Neches is the heart of East Texas! Buddy and I are excited that folks in Houston recognize the river as a vital habitat area and a valuable tourism resource for the city’s four million people.”

The Houston Audubon Society is a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to the conservation and appreciation of birds and wildlife habitat.

Ellen and Buddy Temple have played and continue to play a major role in preserving and protecting the unique, ecologically diverse Neches River bottomlands in East Texas. For decades, the T.L.L. Temple Foundation has supported acquisitions for the Big Thicket National Preserve, a Globally Important Bird Area and International Biosphere Reserve. Recently, Ellen and Buddy worked with countless others and the Temple Foundation in establishing the Neches River National Wildlife Refuge, a 25,000 acre site, which will protect habitat for migratory songbirds and waterfowl and other wildlife. The two have worked tirelessly educating East Texans about the river’s value not only for wildlife habitat, recreation opportunities, economic development, and culture preservation, but also for its vital hydrologic functions of filtering pollutants, recharging groundwater, and stabilizing downstream flows. Ellen has served as President of the board of the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center and is on the Advisory board of the Stephen F. Austin Pineywoods Native Plant Center. She has served on the board of the Texas Nature Conservancy, and on the Board of Regents of The University of Texas System. Ellen is a strong advocate for green infrastructure planning and restoring habitat with native species. Buddy is a former Texas Railroad Commissioner and state representative. He is a board member of Temple-Inland, Inc. and is Chairman of the T.L.L. Temple Foundation. Buddy also serves as an Advisory Board member of the Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute.

Texas Conservation Alliance, a 40-year-old statewide conservation organization, has led many successful projects to protect wildlife habitat in Texas. The most recent was support for establishment of the Neches River National Wildlife Refuge in Anderson and Cherokee counties. The Alliance and its allies generated an impressive 20,000 support letters for its creation. The group was instrumental in having the Neches designated as one of America’s Ten Most Endangered Rivers, calling attention to the river’s vulnerability to construction of water development projects. To protect the Neches River bottomland ecosystem in perpetuity, the Alliance is leading the effort to have the river designated a National Wild and Scenic River. To accomplish its conservation goals, the Alliance builds grassroots coalitions of conservationists, sportsmen, landowners, advocates for nature tourism and outdoor recreation, business people, timber industry leaders, and elected officials to influence public policies and solve natural resource problems. This dynamic group of individuals and 41 member organizations has an exceptional record of protecting Texas’ rivers, forests, coastlines, wildlife, and other natural habitats.

Charles Wilson, a United States Congressman from 1973 – 1997, managed to federally decommission the 160,000 acre Rockland Reservoir on the Neches River in East Texas, protecting vital habitat for migratory and resident birds and other wildlife. He led a brutal ten year struggle against clear-cutting in Texas’ four National Forests. This battle was finally won thanks to Wilson’s effort, as well as the Sierra Club. He was instrumental in creating and passing legislation establishing the five wilderness areas in Texas, two of which protect bottomland hardwood habitat along the Neches (Big Slough and Upland Island). Mr. Wilson was originator of the legislation establishing and protecting the Big Thicket National Preserve. During his Congressional tenure, he supported numerous bills that protect our environment today. Charlie, a former United States naval officer, is an avid wildlife watcher and a strong proponent of protecting Texas’ natural legacy for future generations.

The Conservation Fund, formed in 1985, is a national non-profit 501 (c)(3) organization dedicated to balancing economic and environmental objectives to preserve America’s land legacy – its natural, cultural, and historic heritage – for current and future generations. The Fund has conserved more than 160,000 acres in Texas and over 6 million acres nationally. For a number of years, the Fund has focused on preserving lands in East Texas along the Neches River, one of American’s Ten Most Endangered Rivers. The Fund has purchased and donated thousands of acres to the Big Thicket National Preserve and the newly established Neches River National Wildlife Refuge. The Big Thicket is designated an International Biosphere Reserve and a Globally Important Bird Area. The Neches River National Wildlife Refuge is a U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Priority 1 bottomland hardwood site which will protect nesting, wintering, and migratory habitat for migratory birds of the Central Flyway.