We are happy to announce that Friends of Reservoirs has selected Tom Lang as its first Director of Conservation Partnerships!
The Reservoir Fish Habitat Partnership (RFHP) has announced the establishment of a new position which will be housed within Friends of Reservoirs (FOR). The Director of Conservation Partnerships will lead efforts to identify, cultivate, and secure funding and strategic partnerships aligned with RFHP and FOR’s mission. The position will also support coordination of outreach, communications, and fundraising strategies across the partnership.
The position was identified as a need during the 2025 Black Bass Summit held during the American Fisheries Society's 155th Annual Meeting in San Antonio. Sponsors of the Black Bass Symposium and Summit, along with the Fisheries Conservation Foundation helped to provide seed funding for this pivotal position.
The RFHP Steering Committee worked extensively designing this role to best fit the needs of the Partnership and FOR. This unique role requires a unique skill set and the board found that in their selection of Tom Lang.
"We are delighted to have Tom join our team. Tom will be a significant asset, strengthening our relationships with both new and existing partners," says Doug Nygren, RFHP Coordinator.
"He has a long history of working with our partnership, and his extensive knowledge of reservoir habitat will be invaluable as we assist our partners in addressing impairments. Tom’s ability to communicate the habitat story will help motivate others to invest in these vital fisheries resources.
Please join me in welcoming Tom to the team."
Lang has served on the National Fish Habitat Partnership Board, as president of the Fish Habitat Section of the American Fisheries Society, and is currently serving on the Bass Fishing Hall of Fame Board of Directors. Lang is founder and CEO of Lang Conservation Partners and serves as Executive Director of Fishing's Future, a national non-profit working to strengthen family bonds through fishing. As a part-time position, Lang will serve both Fishing's Future and Friends of Reservoirs."I am eternally grateful to be able to serve these extremely important organizations," Lang said. "Working with partners to enhance reservoir fisheries habitat across our Nation and helping guide families into becoming fishing families, that's a dream combination for me."
Lang is renowned for his ability to develop mutually beneficial partnerships and inspire support for fisheries issues and has raised nearly $20 million in support over the course of his career. He even authored a peer-reviewed book chapter on developing and utilizing strategic partnerships.
Lang was a spearhead for the Lake Wichita Chapter of Friends of Reservoirs that became an enormous grassroots community effort to revitalize Texas' 3rd oldest reservoir. The Lake Wichita project garnered more 3,000 donors who contributed nearly $5 million to the project.
Unique efforts supporting Lake Wichita included partnerships with Falls Distributing for a cents per case initiative coined "This Bud's for Lake Wichita" and "Our Lake, Our Bud Light", a 1st class fundraising dinner "An Evening with Theodore Roosevelt IV" attended by more than 500, partnerships with car dealerships, dry cleaners, restaurants, and more that all supported Lake Wichita Friends of Reservoirs. In recognition of these efforts, Lang received the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department's Employee Recognition Award for Conservation in 2018.
"I really enjoy helping to bring everyone together for fish, fishing, and fisheries efforts," Lang said. "Creatively developing mutually beneficial relationships is required if we are to overcome the fisheries habitat issues our reservoirs and other fisheries resources are facing. I am excited to get to work on this again."
Again, we are so excited to bring Tom Lang onto our team here at FOR. Read more about Tom here: https://www.friendsofreservoirs.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Tom-Lang-Bio-2026.pdf
The Reservoir Fisheries Habitat Partnership is one of 20 recognized Fish Habitat Partnerships of the National Fish Habitat Partnership (www.fishhabitat.org). Its nonprofit arm is Friends of Reservoirs. Clean water and healthy aquatic habitat in reservoirs and their connected waterways are not optional for our nation’s future. Healthy reservoir systems are critical if we are to provide water in sufficient quantity and quality to support humans and their communities, and the aquatic life that thrives within their waters. We envision a future of healthy reservoir systems that are sustained by collaborative action to benefit (1) people, their communities, and their economies and (2) fish and other aquatic species, and their communities, for future generations.