PALESTINE, Texas — What happens when three passions meet to make a lake better for its fish?
This week's Hooked On East Texas introduces you to a Bullard teen whose Eagle Scout project aims to improve the fish habitat at Lake Palestine.
Connor Hollingsworth loves three things: scouting, fishing, and architecture. So, it should come as no surprise that he designed and built fish habitats so he could earn his Eagle Scout rank.
“The biggest thing I was leaning towards for him was, we should do something around fishing," Connor's mom Laura Hollingsworth said.
Connor is part of the Bullard High School fishing team, wants to go to college, study architecture and become an Eagle Scout.
Eagle Scouts must earn 21 merit badges to qualify.
“It’s been challenging in a lot of ways, and I love that for him," Laura Hollingsworth said.
The challenge of planning and building. In December, Connor, his fellow scouts and teammates on the fishing team gave up a Saturday morning to turn plans on paper into a reality.
"It's been a very long process to get to this point and I’m very proud of the steps that he’s taken to get this point," his dad Brandon Hollingsworth said.
“Over 100 hours, in the planning and the actual build of the habitats and now dropping them into the lake," Laura Hollingsworth said.
Jake Norman, Tyler district supervisor who oversees Lake Palestine, said he loves projects like this and getting kids involved is always a big plus.
Another plus is Norman knows where to drop the habitats, such as a place that will attract fish while not a boating hazard.
"Honestly there’s even more discussion now among us of where to put them. Do we put them in obvious fish holding places or do we put them in no man’s land," Norman said.
Norman plots waypoints. He’ll keep track and check as algae grows and attract small fish, which are food for bigger fish.
“The longer these are out here, the better they will fish as long as people want to catch fish off of them,” Norman said.
It's all thanks to a teenager dedicated to helping the environment while obtaining the highest rank in the Boy Scouts of America.
“It culminates nine years of work in scouting all the way from when he was in second grade all the way to a sophomore in high school," Laura Hollingsworth said.
The fish habitats are made from plastic pipes and PVC. Biologists say these types of plastics are safe for lake waters because they don't break down like microplastics. So in the end, this is a project that is helpful for Lake Palestine. It also helps Connor Hollingsworth achieve a lifelong dream of becoming an Eagle Scout.
