FAYETTE COUNTY – The Lower Colorado River Authority is looking for a new entity to operate its 182-acre Cooper Farm Natural Science Laboratory, a model wildlife conservation habitat demonstration site in Fayette County.

LCRA is seeking a long-term partnership preferably with a local group or business that would use the facility to its best advantage. The intent is to continue the relationships with organizations in Fayette and surrounding counties that have looked to Cooper Farm as a venue for activities and programs. The programs range from wildlife and land management to farm safety, prescribed burn techniques and pond-life study. Other activities include overnight camping, community meetings and special events.

Interested parties should contact Jeff Singleton, senior program manager with LCRA’s Resource Planning and Development department, at (512) 473-4078. For more information, look online at www.lcra.org/parks/natural_resource/cooper_farm.html.

LCRA management is undergoing a routine evaluation of all the organization’s programs, projects and properties. The goal is to identify opportunities for savings to help keep the electric services it provides to wholesale customers affordable. During that evaluation, Cooper Farm was identified as an optimal property for finding an appropriate operating partner. 

“We are proud of Cooper Farm and its importance to the wildlife conservation and educational communities that benefit from the property,” said Kay Carlton of La Grange, an LCRA Board member representing Fayette County. “We are looking forward to a new opportunity to partner with an organization that will dedicate itself to continuing the good work and example of stewardship we have accomplished at Cooper Farm. Over the years, thousands of adults and youngsters have learned the lessons this unique and well-managed property has taught us about how to properly care for the land and its wildlife.”

LCRA acquired Cooper Farm in the early 1980s as part of a larger lignite-mining operation for the Fayette Power Project in La Grange. The mining operation did not materialize, and LCRA developed the property into a demonstration site with a mission to provide significant value to Fayette County landowners through its conservation and education programs.