Regional Highlights

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more specific issues.

Recent Rains a Welcome Relief (all regions)

Rains received in many parts of the state during mid-October have made impacts in some of the areas hardest hit by the continuing drought including the High Plains, Rolling Plains, and Trans-Pecos. However, the Upper Coast is only part of the state where these rains have had a significant impact in water levels. With fall and winter weather forecasted to be influenced by an El Niño event, additional rains should raise water levels in some key reservoirs improving the outlook for next spring's fishing and boating.

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TPWD Offers Opportunities During Special Youth Seasons (all regions)

Spurred by recent rains and the onset of fall cool fronts, duck numbers are steadily building along coastal ponds and on Panhandle playa lakes. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department is encouraging hunting mentors to take advantage of these early migrants with young waterfowlers during the Oct. 28-29 Special Youth Season in Texas.

In addition to waterfowl hunting during the statewide special youth-only hunting weekend, licensed youth 16 years of age or younger will also be allowed to harvest white-tailed deer and Rio Grande turkey. Seasons for other species, including quail and squirrels, are also open to all hunters regardless of age during this special weekend, providing excellent opportunities for mentoring youth.

Hunting for ducks, mergansers and coots during the youth-only waterfowl hunts is limited by federal rules to youngsters 15 years of age or younger. Bag limits and hunting restrictions under the new Hunter’s Choice will apply during the youth season.

For hunters who do not have access to privately-owned land, TPWD is providing low cost access during the Special Youth Season to nearly three quarters of a million acres of department managed lands for hunting, including most wildlife management areas, some state parks and many leased properties under the Annual Public Hunting permit program.

Learn more

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East Texas Fish Hatchery (East)

The design of the new East Texas Fish Hatchery will be completed in Spring 2007. The land has been cleared in Jasper and is ready for the anticipated start of construction next summer. The ETFH is being funded with revenue bonds that are being paid for by the new Freshwater Fishing Stamp. TPWD will be requesting the Texas Public Finance Authority to initiate the approval process and subsequent issue of $15 million of revenue bond proceeds sometime in late February 2007. The new facility will be a major source of bass and catfish for future stockings throughout the state.

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New facilities Now Available at Engeling WMA (East)

Construction of the Gus Engeling Wildlife Management Area Learning Center is finished up and the TPWD Wildlife Division took occupancy of the building Sept 19, 2006. Area schools utilize the WMA as an outdoor classroom and the new facilities will enhance the conservation education opportunities that can be offered there. A formal opening ceremony in Spring 2007 will be planned.

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Hurricane Rita Repairs Underway (East and Upper Coast)

In September 2005, Hurricane Rita damaged facilities at eleven TPWD sites including seven state parks, one fish hatchery and three wildlife management areas. TPWD's Force Account crews are completing repairs at one site - Village Creek State Park - and construction/repairs at Martin Dies, Jr. State Park and Jasper Fish Hatchery are now underway. Contracts are being prepared to initiate repairs on facilities at Sabine Pass State Historical Park and Sea Rim State Park. TPWD is awaiting final approval packages from FEMA/Governor's Office of Emergency Management for the remaining projects.

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Battleship TEXAS Re-submitting Application for Federal Funds for Repairs (Upper Coast)

On September 28, the Texas Transportation Commission informed TPWD that the application for $16.1 million in Federal Highway Enhancement funding to construct the dry berth and make needed repairs to the Battleship TEXAS had been determined to be ineligible by the Texas Division of the Federal Highway Administration. TPWD Infrastructure Division staff will be working closely with TXDOT to restructure and resubmit the application, highlighting the ship's historic significance and more clearly defining its relationship to surface transportation. Approval of this federal funding is a critical piece of our long term funding strategy. We are estimating that the total project cost will exceed $51 million. In addition to the federal funding through TXDOT, TPWD has requested additional dollars in two exceptional items in our LAR: $12.4 in Proposition 8 General Obligation Bonds and $22.5 million to complete the project.

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Red Tide Watch Continues on Coast (Upper Coast)

Department biologists continue to monitor the current red tide outbreak on the central and southern Texas coast. TPWD staff conducted a coast overflight on Oct. 20 and reported dead fish floating throughout the northern half of Corpus Christi Bay and slightly visible patches of red tide in the bay. Widely scattered dead fish were observed on Gulf beaches south of Bob Hall Pier and large dead fish, likely red drum, became common near mile marker 45 of Padre Island National Seashore. Once south of the Port Mansfield jetties, however, biologists observed no obvious abnormal water color and no signs of a fish kill or airborne aerosol continuing south along South Padre Island. Meanwhile, the Texas Department of State Health Services (TDSHS) has begun monitoring bays in preparation for the opening of shellfish harvesting season Nov. 1. See the TPWD Web site for more information about red tide and the latest red tide updates.

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Extensive Facelift Returns Indian Lodge to Historic Splendor (West)

Everything new is "old" again at one of the state's most beloved historic inns, Indian Lodge. The Davis Mountains lodge, owned and operated by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, has undergone an extensive renovation that took five years and cost $4.35 million to complete. The two-phase project began in 2001 to restore Indian Lodge to its 1930s appearance and update its mechanical systems. Original ceilings of pine beams, or vigas, and smaller latillas, have been restored, as have almost 200 pieces of original rustic wood furniture. To ensure modern-day comfort, the lodge's heating and air-conditioning and plumbing systems have been upgraded in the first large-scale modernization to occur in almost 40 years. State Rep. Pete Gallego of Alpine, who was instrumental in securing initial state funding for the project, will join local government officials and other invited guests Oct. 26 to tour the renovated facilities, said David Bischofhausen, who manages the Davis Mountains State Parks Complex that includes the state park, Indian Lodge and nearby Balmorhea State Park. Park staff, he added, will be conducting interpretive tours of the refurbished lodge and grounds, Davis Mountains State Park and Balmorhea. (Learn more)

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