About Us:

The Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center is an $18 million facility built without the use of state funds even though it belongs to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, an agency of the state of Texas. Many public and private entities worked with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation to raise this money.

Much of the money came from the Sport Fish and Wildlife Restoration Fund, a federal program funded by a tax on purchases made by hunters and anglers. The City of Athens provided a financial package worth $4,063,000, the largest single gift ever made to a conservation project in the state of Texas. Additional support came from the ShareLunker Foundation, Inc., the Athens Municipal Water Authority, the Athens Economic Development Commission and a number of private corporations.

Grants from corporations, conservation organizations and individuals continue to be a vital source of funds for Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center programs. Contributors include the Dallas Safari Club, Trinity Valley Electric Corporation, Exxon/Mobil Corporation, the Freshwater Anglers Association, the Hillcrest Foundation, the Effie and Wofford Cain Foundation, Texas Black Bass Unlimited and TXU. The Texas Department of Transportation funded much of the work on the wetlands trail. Bass Pro Shops founder John L. Morris provided Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center with a challenge grant of up to $650,000 for money raised during 2004-2005 for a new education building. Click here for a more complete list of donors.