Far from reflecting the will or needs of the majority of Americans, this local, state, and national movement to weaken consumer safety, natural resource conservation, and other public protection laws and their enforcement is contrary to what people really want in their daily lives. The Sabine River drainage basin covers most of east Texas and western Louisiana, the river forming part of the boundary between the two states. Dammed in 1970 to form Toledo Bend Reservoir, the river marks the eastern boundary of Sabine County. Almost half the area is either national forest land or open water and river channel. Timber harvesting and plywood manufacturing are the main sources of income.
Poultry production is common in the northern watershed.
Surrounding counties in the larger watershed have similar land use patterns, population, economy, and landscape features. From about 1860 to 1970 the economy and natural resources of the middle watershed followed a boom or bust cycle. Railroad expansion and mechanized timber cutting and milling favored wholesale harvest of the virgin pine and hardwood timber and the economy boomed. Wildlife such as black bear, deer, turkey, bobcat, wolf, and fox suffered, being virtually eliminated by 1920. Cotton and other cash crops replaced trees until the boll weevil, drought, depression, and soil erosion combined to wipe out most farms.