Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission
Public Hearing

November 2000 Commission Meeting

Committee and Public Hearing Synopsis Reports


REGULATIONS COMMITTEE
November 8, 2000

ITEM 1: BRIEFING – Chairman’s Charges

ITEM 2: ACTION – Rule Review

Presenter: Gene McCarty

ACTION: Committee consideration for presentation to full Commission in Public Hearing. This item is also located in the Public Hearing Synopsis report.

CONSENT: This item could be eligible for consent agenda.

This item seeks adoption of proposed rulemaking required by House Bill 1, 75th Legislature, which requires the Department to review all regulations and either repeal, amend, or readopt them. The item addresses a suite of regulations in 31 TAC including:

ITEM 3: BRIEFING – Statewide Hunting and Fishing Preview

Presenter: Paul Hammerschmidt, Phil Durocher, Gary Graham

ACTION: Committee review and discussion.

This item briefs the Regulations Committee on potential changes to the 2000-2001 Statewide Hunting and Fishing Proclamation. The potential changes include:

WILDLIFE

INLAND FISHERIES

COASTAL FISHERIES

- Increase bag to 15 fish (from 7 to 15 to match the federal bag limit)

ITEM 4: ACTION – Petition for Rulemaking

Presenter: Robin Riechers

ACTION: Committee consideration for presentation to full Commission in Public Hearing. This item is also located in the Public Hearing Synopsis report.

CONSENT: This item could be eligible for consent agenda.

Regarding the Establishment of a Rule Mandating Spotted Seatrout, Flounder, and Red Drum Landed in Texas Comply with Established Texas Bag and Size Limits.

On August 30, 2000, Mr. Jerry Norris presented a petition for rulemaking that was signed by 569 individuals (Exhibit A) to the Commission. The petition requests that any spotted seatrout, flounder or red drum landed in the counties of Jefferson and Orange, Texas must meet with established Texas bag and size limits required for those fish.

Mr. Norris and the petitioners expressed the following concerns about populations of spotted seatrout, flounder and red drum in Sabine Lake: 1) a large number of anglers were landing Louisiana limits in Texas; 2) fish caught legally in unlimited numbers within federal waters (EEZ) off Louisiana were being landed in Texas; and 3) this excessive harvest compromises the biological viability of the species within Sabine Lake.

Staff has reviewed this issue, and finds 1) Texas Parks and Wildlife (TPW) recreational harvest data indicate that few individuals landing fish in Texas exceeded Texas bag limits; 2) landing unlimited numbers of fish in Texas from the EEZ is already illegal; and 3) TPW resource monitoring data for Sabine Lake indicate population trends of these three species have improved over the last 10 years.

Staff will recommend denial of the petition.

ITEM 5: ACTION – Petition for Rulemaking – Quail Season

Presenter: Dr. Gary Graham

ACTION: Committee consideration for presentation to full Commission in Public Hearing. This item is also located in the Public Hearing Synopsis report.

CONSENT: This item could be eligible for consent agenda.

This item presents a petition for rulemaking received by the Department. The petitioners request that the opening day of quail season be moved from the Saturday closest to November 1 to the last Saturday in October.

Staff has reviewed the petition and finds that no biological implications, positive or negative, would result from implementing the petitioner’s request. Staff recommends that the item be included in the rulemaking process for the 2001-2002 Statewide Hunting and Fishing Proclamation.

ITEM 6: ACTION – Managed Lands Deer Permits

Presenter: Dr. Jerry Cooke

ACTION: Committee consideration for presentation to full Commission in Public Hearing. This item is also located in the Public Hearing Synopsis report.

CONSENT: This item could be eligible for consent agenda.

This item amends the Statewide Hunting and Fishing Proclamation to make Level 2 and Level 3 MLD permits valid during any open white-tailed deer season, rather than until the end of January.

ITEM 7: ACTION – Statewide Aquatic Vegetation Management Rules

Presenter: Robert Sweeney

ACTION: Committee consideration for presentation to full Commission in Public Hearing. This item is also located in the Public Hearing Synopsis report.

CONSENT: This item could be eligible for consent agenda.

This item asks the Commission to adopt regulations to implement HB 3079 of the 76th Legislature, relating to the statewide aquatic vegetation management plan. These regulations would:

FINANCE COMMITTEE
November 8, 2000

ITEM 1: BRIEFING – Chairman’s Charges

ITEM 2: BRIEFING – Financial Review Update

Presenter: Suzy Whittenton

ACTION: Committee review and discussion.

Staff will present a financial review for the year to day FY2001, including an update on Account 9, Game, Fish and Water Safety and account 64, State Parks. This presentation will focus on the sale of hunting and fishing licenses, boat registration and titling fees, and state park fees. Updated budget and expenditure information will be also be presented.

ITEM 3: ACTION – Artwork

Presenter: Frances Stiles

ACTION: Committee consideration for presentation to full Commission in Public Hearing. This item is also located in the Public Hearing Synopsis report.

CONSENT: This item could be eligible for consent agenda.

This item provides the Commission the opportunity to review and approve the artwork utilized for the annual stamp and print program for Waterfowl, Saltwater, Turkey, and Nongame.

ITEM 4: BRIEFING – Point-of-Sale Update

Presenter: Jayna Burgdorf

ACTION: Committee review and discussion.

The update on replacement of the license sales system will include the status of the development project with MCI WorldCom and policy changes associated with the new system.

CONSERVATION COMMITTEE
November 8, 2000

ITEM 1: BRIEFING – Chairman’s Charges

ITEM 2: BRIEFING – Texas Tech Study

Presenter: Andrew Sansom/Lydia Saldana

ACTION: Committee review and discussion.

Texas Parks and Wildlife has contracted with Texas Tech University to conduct a comprehensive research study that will assist state leadership in charting a conservation course for the future.

This item will:

ITEM 3: BRIEFING – S.B. 1

Presenter: Larry McKinney

ACTION: Committee review and discussion.

Texas Parks and Wildlife (TPW) staff has worked closely with the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission, the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB), and the sixteen regional planning groups established in Senate Bill 1 by the 75th Legislature. The regional plans are now complete and have been forwarded to the TWDB for review and compilation into a state plan by January 0f 2002.

The briefing will summarize TPW staff efforts to support regional planning groups, assess environmental aspects of the regional plans, and discuss future actions as related to TPW’s role in development the state plan.

ITEM 4: ACTION – Land Sale – Nacogdoches County (Alazan Bayou WMA)

Presenter: Jack Bauer

ACTION: Committee consideration for presentation to full Commission in Public Hearing. This item is also located in the Public Hearing Synopsis report.

CONSENT: This item is not eligible for consent agenda.

Land sale at Alazan Bayou WMA to Nacogdoches County for the purpose of widening FM 2782

ITEM 5: ACTION – Land Acquisition – Kendall County (Old Tunnel WMA)

Presenter: Jack Bauer

ACTION: Committee consideration for presentation to full Commission in Public Hearing. This item is also located in the Public Hearing Synopsis report.

CONSENT: This item is not eligible for consent agenda.

Land Acquisition of an approximate 5.61-acre lot adjacent to Old Tunnel WMA for the purpose of providing space to construct a 100-space parking lot in support of public visitation.

ITEM 6: ACTION – Land Acquisition – Randall County Palo Duro Canyon – Canoncita

Presenter: Karen Leslie

ACTION: Committee consideration for presentation to full Commission in Public Hearing. This item is also located in the Public Hearing Synopsis report.

CONSENT: This item is not eligible for consent agenda.

Land acquisition of approximately 2,036 acres adjacent to Palo Duro Canyon State Park is recommended.

AD HOC INFRASTRUCTURE COMMITTEE
November 8, 2000

ITEM 1: BRIEFING – Chairman’s Charges

ITEM 2: BRIEFING – Bond and Capital Program Update

Presenter: Scott Boruff

ACTION: Committee review and discussion.

Briefing on the status of the Bond and Capital Program. The report will reflect project status of each bond issue, current status of capital dollars expended, and projected expenditure goals.

AD HOC OUTREACH COMMITTEE
November 8, 2000

ITEM 1: BRIEFING – Chairman’s Charges

ITEM 2: BRIEFING – Statewide and Regional Outreach Initiative Update

Presenter: Bob Murphy

ACTION: Committee review and discussion.

This briefing provides the Committee with an update on agency efforts to implement a comprehensive statewide and regional outreach effort including the following strategies:

A department-wide supplemental has been approved to hire regional specialists to direct outreach efforts in Houston, Dallas and San Antonio. Resource Protection and Education staff organization has been realigned to coordinate the statewide outreach strategic plan including these regional efforts. Outreach efforts will be coordinated across divisions via the existing Education (and Outreach) Team. A recap of planning efforts and contracted services, including the successes of regional pilots in Houston and Dallas, will be provided. Status of outreach efforts to be included in planning efforts at Sheldon Lake SP, Cedar Hill SP and Government Canyon SNA will be discussed.


SYNOPSIS REPORTS

Thursday, November 9, 2000

PUBLIC HEARING
November 9, 2000

ACCEPTANCE OF GIFTS

RETIREMENT CERTIFICATES AND SERVICE AWARDS

PRESENTATION – SHIKAR-SAFARI OFFICER OF THE YEAR AWARD

Staff: Jim Robertson

APPROVAL OF AGENDA - Chairman Bass

ITEM 1: ACTION - Consent Agenda Items

ITEM 2: BRIEFING – Expo IX Wrap-up

Presenter: Ernie Gammage

ACTION: Commission review and discussion.

Presentation of highlights of the 2000 Texas Wildlife Expo.

ITEM 3: ACTION – Rule Review

Presenter: Gene McCarty

ACTION: Commission consideration for adoption.

This item seeks adoption of proposed rulemaking required by House Bill 1, 75th Legislature, which requires the Department to review all regulations and either repeal, amend, or readopt them. The item addresses a suite of regulations 31 TAC including:

ITEM 4: ACTION – Petition for Rulemaking

Presenter: Robin Riechers

ACTION: Commission consideration for adoption.

Landed in Texas Comply with Established Texas Bag and Size Limits.

On August 30, 2000, Mr. Jerry Norris presented a petition for rulemaking that was signed by 569 individuals (Exhibit A) to the Commission. The petition requests that any spotted seatrout, flounder or red drum landed in the counties of Jefferson and Orange, Texas must meet with established Texas bag and size limits required for those fish.

Mr. Norris and the petitioners expressed the following concerns about populations of spotted seatrout, flounder and red drum in Sabine Lake: 1) a large number of anglers were landing Louisiana limits in Texas; 2) fish caught legally in unlimited numbers within federal waters (EEZ) off Louisiana were being landed in Texas; and 3) this excessive harvest compromises the biological viability of the species within Sabine Lake.

Staff has reviewed this issue, and finds 1) Texas Parks and Wildlife (TPW) recreational harvest data indicate that few individuals landing fish in Texas exceeded Texas bag limits; 2) landing unlimited numbers of fish in Texas from the EEZ is already illegal; and 3) TPW resource monitoring data for Sabine Lake indicate population trends of these three species have improved over the last 10 years.

Staff will recommend denial of the petition.

ITEM 5: ACTION – Statewide Aquatic Vegetation Management Rules

Presenter: Steve Hall

ACTION: Commission consideration for adoption.

This item asks the Commission to adopt regulations to implement HB 3079 of the 76th Legislature, relating to the statewide aquatic vegetation management plan. These regulations would:

ITEM 6: ACTION – Managed Lands Deer Permits

Presenter: Dr. Jerry Cooke

ACTION: Commission consideration for adoption.

This item amends the Statewide Hunting and Fishing Proclamation to make Level 2 and Level 3 MLD permits valid during any open white-tailed deer season, rather than until the end of January.

ITEM 7: ACTION – Artwork

Presenter: Frances Stiles

ACTION: Commission consideration for adoption.

This item provides the Commission the opportunity to review and approve the artwork utilized for the annual stamp and print program for Waterfowl, Saltwater, Turkey, and Nongame.

ITEM 8: BRIEFING – DU Texas CARE Announcement

Presenter: Vernon Bevill

ACTION: Commission review and discussion.

Texas CARE (Conservation, Agriculture, Resources and the Environment) is a partnership between TPW and DU and will be the umbrella under which DU will carry out all of its conservation and fundraising work in Texas. It will include Texas Prairie Wetlands Program, MARSH, and any new initiatives undertaken on public or private lands. Texas CARE will include three priority areas: (1) Gulf Coast, (2) East Texas and Pineywoods, and (3) Playa Lakes. There will be other "special projects" that may be outside these priority areas, but will be consistent with the mission.

ITEM 9: ACTION – Land Sale – Nacogdoches County (Alazan Bayou WMA)

Presenter: Jack Bauer

ACTION: Commission consideration for adoption.

Land sale at Alazan Bayou WMA to Nacogdoches County for the purpose of widening FM 2782

ITEM 10: ACTION - Land Acquisition Kendall County (Old Tunnel WMA)

Presenter: Jack Bauer

ACTION: Commission consideration for adoption.

Land Acquisition of an approximate 5.61-acre lot adjacent to Old Tunnel WMA for the purpose of providing space to construct a 100-space parking lot in support of public visitation.

ITEM 11: ACTION – Land Acquisition – Randall County

Presenter: Karen Leslie

ACTION: Commission consideration for adoption.

Land acquisition of approximately 2,036 acres adjacent to Palo Duro Canyon State Park is recommended.


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