San Jacinto River Authority wants your used Christmas trees for its annual Lake Conroe Tree Drive

THE WOODLANDS, TX – The San Jacinto River Authority (SJRA) is encouraging all area residents to not leave their Christmas trees on the curb after the holidays, and instead bring it in to be used to improve fish habitat in Lake Conroe.

SJRA, in partnership with Texas Parks and Wildlife Inland Fisheries, will be collecting Christmas trees all January long. Residents are encouraged to drop off their undecorated, live tree (not artificial) through January 26, 2024 – in an effort to enhance Lake Conroe fishery while simultaneously reducing landfill waste – at one of these two locations:

Hwy 105 & Sandy Beach Drive in Montgomery County at the west end of the Lake Conroe Dam
E Canal Rd east of N Main in Harris County at the southwest corner of the Highlands Reservoir

Richard Tramm, SJRA Highlands Division Manager said, “SJRA has hosted the Christmas Tree Drive for a number of years. We are honored to be able to offer a second drop off location this year, at the Highlands Division office in Harris County. This will allow local area residents to participate in the drive, without having to make the trip to Lake Conroe.”

SJRA’s Lake Conroe Division attaches the trees to cement blocks and sinks them at a designated location in the lake. After the trees are deployed, the location is publicized on SJRA’s social media so anglers can use it as a fishing location.

“Once the holiday season comes to an end many are left wondering what to do with their Christmas tree. Christmas trees, stripped of any decorations, make excellent fish habitat,” said Bret Raley, SJRA’s Lake Conroe Division Manager. “Every year, SJRA staff in collaboration with Texas Parks and Wildlife use Christmas trees to form what are known as brush reefs. These reefs are deployed into Lake Conroe and provide food and protection for prey species of fish while attracting the predator species that are so much fun to catch.”

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