Regional Highlights - Upper Coast Issues

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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.

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.

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.

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.

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