Last month, customers received a letter from Sam Houston Electric
Cooperative, Inc. (SHECO) about its plans to construct a 138 kilovolt
transmission line along or nearby FM 980; requiring an approximately
100-foot-wide right of way. The purpose is to connect the Staley substation,
located a couple of miles north of Waterwood along FM 980, to a new substation
at Point Blank, south of Waterwood. Supposedly the new Point Blank substation
(as a result of connecting the proposed new transmission line from Staley) will
lessen the wide-spread impact of outages and other problems experienced by
customers of northern San Jacinto County. In other words, if the new line takes
a hit and results in an outage, fewer customers would be negatively affected.
The transmission line isn't being proposed due to a significant increase in
customers.

When aesthetics are considered, a transmission line is about as picturesque
as a nuclear power plant. It's ugly; no one wants utility equipment within view
of their home. Not only can a nearby transmission line negatively affect
residential real estate marketability but it can also negatively alter the local
wildlife habitat by removing trees and other plants to make way for the
transmission line.

SHECO has proposed several alternative routes for the proposed transmission
line. Only landowners affected by these routes have a right to be legal
"parties" to the case, but community citizens will have a right to mail their
"comments" to TX Utility Commissioners. An individual or business or a group
who mails comments for or against any aspect of SHECO's transmission line
application will be considered a protester." Protesters will be able to make a
written or verbal statement in support of or in opposition to SHECO's
application (not yet filed) and give information to the TX Utility Commissioners
that they believe supports their position.

Waterwood Watchdog will recommend the proposed line be constructed out of
view of FM 980 on an alternative route where fewer trees will be felled.
According to the map provided by SHECO, one alternative route is along an old
pipeline right of way several miles west of FM 980 (out of view from FM 980)
which primarily consists of pasture. Although it would be more costly to build,
a transmission line constructed a good distance from FM 980 would be more
beneficial to Waterwood's future nature-based tourism than a transmission line
directly along FM 980.

Waterwood Country Club's revenues from its marina and RV campground will
get a good boost from the Texas Parks & Wildlife. It is presently working on the
latest of its several trails, the Prairies and Pineywoods Trail (to be completed
in 2004), modeled after the popular Coastal Birding Trail. These wildlife trails
are immensely popular because they cater to the specific needs and interests of
nature tourists, providing them the information they need to explore the back
roads of Texas.

Waterwood Wildlife Trail is seven miles of trails in the forest; it begs
and ends at the Country Club, crossing FM 980 at two points. It was chosen for
inclusion on the Texas Park and Wildlife's Big Sandy Loop 3 of the Prairies &
Pineywoods Trail. The "driving trail" of the Big Sandy Loop 3 will require
tourists to travel on FM 980. It connects a nature site at Riverside, the
nature trail at Waterwood, and other nature sites east and south of Point Blank.
A transmission line along FM 980 could hurt this nature-based tourism in San
Jacinto County.

FM 980's pineywoods environment (what's left of it) needs to be conserved
to protect the natural attractions in our area. Whether tourists hike the
Waterwood Wildlife Trail or participate in hunting, fishing, birdwatching,
photography and other nature-based recreational opportunities in our area, they
want to be immersed in a rich natural experience. Building a transmission line
along FM 980 (and removing much wildlife habitat) will not only detract from
that rich natural experience but it will also change the environment, thereby
lessening the value of nature-based tourism along FM 980.

In addition to negatively affecting Waterwood's future nature-based
tourism, a transmission line if constructed on the east side of FM 980 near
Waterwood will negatively affect an 81-acre cemetery of ancient oaks, hickories,
and pines where families can be buried naturally on large plots. There is a
hiking trail connecting the plots which can be used by the public.

The public will be invited to submit comments to the TX Utility Commission
at a future date. Waterwood Watchdog will post a short message along with an
attachment of a form which can be filled out and mailed to Austin,TX. If you
would like more information or have questions, the best source is SHECO itself.
Contact Robin Sory of SHECO at 936-328-1205. -End-