State fisheries biologists have set a January series of public input meetings in Port Arthur, Dickinson, Port Aransas and Port Isabel to discuss possible changes to the way fishing and fisheries are regulated along the Texas coast.
LAKE JACKSON, Texas — The world’s longest bird watching competition is changing to a new “big weekend” format this year, marking the first year the Great Texas Birding Classic will hold the majority of competitive categories and events all on a single day. Also, thanks to a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service grant, prize money for conservation projects has increased this year from $52,000 to $73,000.
The popular Redfish Bay area receives an extra measure of protection beginning May 1. On that date, a new regulation takes effect, prohibiting the uprooting of seagrass within the Redfish Bay State Scientific Area (RBSSA).
The shallow, highly productive body of water straddling the Aransas Bay and Corpus Christi Bay systems in the Coastal Bend boasts the state’s northernmost extensive stands of sea grasses, highly evolved marine flowering plants that are one source of the area’s bounty of red drum and spotted seatrout.
Texas state parks and historic sites are seeking retirees, vacationing educators and any others looking for something interesting to do this summer.
With more than 100 state parks and historic sites, volunteer opportunities abound throughout the state. Parks seeking volunteers include such popular Texas Hill Country in parks as Blanco and Garner, as well as Mustang Island State Park along the Gulf of Mexico and Panhandle jewel Palo Duro Canyon.
AUSTIN, Texas — Since Hurricane Rita has changed course, more Texas state parks in East Texas are now closing temporarily, while others are hosting hundreds of hurricane evacuees free of charge. (See state park closure list below.)
AUSTIN, Texas — The economic benefits from Texas state parks far exceed the cost to operate them. This key finding was highlighted by a university researcher in a recent briefing to the Texas State Parks Advisory Committee, which meets again in Austin on July 14.
AUSTIN, Texas — Christmas came early this year to dozens of state parks throughout Texas, thanks to lawmakers and voters who gave a strong thumbs-up to more funding for parks. That’s good news for families planning a state park outing during the upcoming holiday season.
As in past natural disasters, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department is opening the gates of Texas state parks to evacuees from Hurricane Dolly. Campsites and screen shelters will be offered free to those who need a temporary place to stay.
AUSTIN, Texas — Texas Parks and Wildlife Department game wardens redeployed from the Rio Grande Valley to their home counties this morning as state parks officials began cleaning up storm debris in area parks.
Some 72 game wardens and supervisors, along with seven boat mechanics and two communications specialists deployed to South Texas in preparation for Hurricane Dolly. Game wardens brought with them 70 boats. The storm made landfall as a Category Two hurricane at South Padre Island about noon Wednesday.
ROCKPORT — Women interested in the outdoors are invited to attend the second annual Women in the Wild workshop, a weekend-long event being held by the Rockport chapter of the Texas Outdoors Woman Network (TOWN) on May 1-2. The event is designed to help familiarize women with the various outdoor activities in the Coastal Bend and encourage them to participate in a fun and safe outdoor environment.
