Visitors, power plant cool off at Martin Creek Lake

Visitors to Martin Creek Lake State Park remark on its tranquility and the constant rumble of the world's largest lignite-fired power plant.

Their serenity could be attributed to a lack of awareness of the park's existence among many residents in Longview, the lake's closest metropolitan area. Attendance numbers reveal that awareness is growing.

Lee Roberts, who completes his first year as park manager there in September, wants to continue a 60 percent increase in monthly visitation with programs geared at introducing the TXU Generating Plant's cooling lake and nearby state park to East Texas children groups, with educational programs for neighboring county's boys and girls clubs, schools and recreation associations.

"One of the things I would like to see us get heavily involved in is outdoor interpretation, with involvement from larger cities," said Roberts. "We have screen shelters for overnight camping for groups to talk about the need for state parks in our area."

Martin Creek Lake State Park runs on a $265,376 operation budget. Recent financial cuts to Texas state parks have translated to aging vehicles, lawnmowers, chainsaws and tractors, with Martin lake park rangers scavenging for parts from broken down trucks to keep others running, he said.

"We could use more people. We could use more equipment. We could use upgrades. In the parks and wildlife department, we've suffered cutbacks for a number of years, and what we have wound up with are vehicles that have come to us from other departments that have at least 125,000 miles on them," he said.

Despite money woes, Roberts said he is optimistic about the 286-acre park on the north shores of the lake that then-Texas Utilities built in the late 1970s to cool its three generators. The electrical giant, which became TXU decades later, donated some property to the state, which in turn purchased more land. The parks department has a 30-year lease with TXU — at $10 — for visitors to boat, fish and swim.

Roberts said 63,471 visitors have passed through the park's gate from Jan. 1 through July 7, equaling almost 10,100 guests per month in 2006 compared to 6,319 guests monthly in 2005, which had 75,832 guests for the year. There were 74,500 visitors in 2004.

"I love the whole park, the way it's laid out," said Pat Matthews, 55, of Wills Point. She made her first visit to the park on July 8 with her husband, brother, sister-in-law and two Chihuahuas. "It's one of the nicest parks we've been to."

Kilgore resident Shaun Hooker, 42, said he thought many Longview residents were unaware of the park because of the larger Lake O' the Pines about a half hour north of Loop 281.

"This is a nice, quiet family place for taking your kids," said Hooker, who brought his wife and two kids camping for the weekend. He was loading up firewood for a barbecue. "It's a nice state park. They could use a little more rain so the lake would fill up."

Lake visitation survived a big drop-off during the 1980s when selenium levels rose above state environmental mandates. A test sample of drinking water was examined by the Texas Water Development Board in June.

"As I understand it, the lake was released from having any amounts of selenium that were considered to be health hazards some years back," Roberts said.

Martin Creek Lake State Park, like all 120 state parks in Texas, could use a larger budget, he said. Roberts said he instead looks to the future of this jewel tucked 4 miles southwest of Tatum that he hopes is not such a secret among younger generations.

"I would like to have the opportunity to talk to anybody about this park," he said. "We have a great positive impact."

*****

If you go

What: Martin Creek Lake State Park

Where: From Texas 149 in Tatum, turn southwest onto Texas 43 and go 4 miles to Rusk County Road 2183, then east for 1/2 mile to Park Road 2111.

Address: Rural Route 2, Box 20; Tatum, TX, 75691

Phone: (903) 836-4336

Reservations: Online at www.tpwd.state.tx.us; By phone at (512-389-8900.

Activities: Camping, hiking, swimming, biking, fishing, boating and picnicking.

Facilities: Restrooms, showers, tent sites, dump station, amphitheater, trails, boat ramp, fishing pier, cabins, cottages, shelters, residences, recreational vehicle hook-ups and picnic areas.

Entrance: $2 per day per person, age 13 and older. Free entry with Texas Annual Park Pass

Overnight: Six primitive sites without electricity or water, $6 per day; 83 camping sites with electricity; premium, $15 per night; regular $12 per night; deluxe cabins with two double beds, restrooms, dining rooms, heated and air conditioned, screened-in porch and cooker, $70 per night plus tax; Group pavilion for reunions, corporate picnics and more, $45 per day.