How LWA is Protecting and Preserving Nature Around Our Trails

At the Lake Wister Association, we believe that a trail is only as good as the nature surrounding it. The trees that provide shade on a hot summer day, the clean air you breathe on your morning walk, the wildlife you might spot along the way — these things do not happen by accident. They are the result of intentional care, community effort, and a commitment to protecting the natural environment around our trails for generations to come. Here is a look at what LWA has been doing to make that happen.

Oklahoma Forestry Grants: Investing in the Future of Our Trails

LWA has been fortunate to receive not one but two grants from the Oklahoma Forestry Services in support of environmental conservation along our trails. These grants reflect a shared belief that protecting and restoring the natural landscape around public recreational trails is an investment worth making, and we are incredibly grateful for the support.

The funding has allowed us to take meaningful action toward reforesting bare areas along Old Frisco Trail and protecting the ecological health of the corridor that thousands of community members enjoy every year. With the new PBR Trail also in development, this commitment to environmental stewardship is only growing.

500 Trees in 3 Hours: Our January 2025 Planting Day

One of the most exciting conservation milestones in LWA's recent history happened in January 2025, when 14 incredible volunteers came together and planted over 500 loblolly pine trees along mile 3 of Old Frisco Trail in just three hours. That is not a typo. Five hundred trees. Three hours. Fourteen people. It was one of those days that reminds you what a community can accomplish when it shows up with purpose.

The choice of loblolly pine was no accident. Loblolly pines are powerful carbon absorbers, acting as carbon sinks that help remove excess carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, and their deep root systems reduce soil erosion. They can grow up to 2 feet per year, reaching maturity in approximately 25 to 30 years, making them one of the faster-growing pine species and an ideal choice for reforestation efforts. Their deep and extensive root systems firmly anchor the soil, reducing the risk of degradation in areas prone to heavy rainfall, while the thick layer of fallen pine needles creates a natural mulch that enhances soil moisture retention and reduces surface runoff.

In practical terms, what those 500 trees mean for trail users is more shade during the warmer months, better wind protection in the winter, cleaner air, and a healthier, more beautiful stretch of trail to enjoy for decades to come.

Keeping the Trail Clean: Our June 2025 Trash Pickup Day

Conservation is not just about what you plant. It is also about what you pick up. In June 2025, LWA organized a community trash pickup day on Old Frisco Trail, bringing volunteers together to help keep the trail clean, safe, and welcoming for everyone who uses it.

Events like this are a simple but powerful reminder that caring for the environment around us does not always require a grant or a big project. Sometimes it just takes a group of people who love their community enough to spend a morning picking up litter. We are grateful to every volunteer who has ever shown up for one of these days.

Why It All Matters

Pine plantations on previously degraded lands play an important role in providing ecosystem services, including soil and land protection against erosion, water source protection, carbon sequestration, and the restoration of landscape and biodiversity. Every tree planted along Old Frisco Trail is contributing to something much larger than shade on a summer afternoon. It is part of a broader effort to restore and protect the natural ecology of eastern Oklahoma, one mile of trail at a time.

We are proud of the progress we have made and excited about what is still ahead. Whether you are a regular trail user, a volunteer, or simply someone who cares about the environment, you are part of this story. Thank you for helping us protect the natural beauty of Leflore County for everyone who comes after us.

Want to Get Involved?

If you would like to participate in future planting days, clean-up events, or other volunteer opportunities, sign up for our mailing list to stay in the loop. Every pair of hands makes a difference.