Regional Highlights - Valley Issues

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Texas Clipper to be sunk in Gulf of Mexico on Nov. 15 (Region V)

On Nov. 15, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department will be sinking the 473-foot USTS Texas Clipper 17 nautical miles off of South Padre Island, Texas. The Texas Clipper began her life as the USS Queens (APA-103), a WWII transport and attack ship. As the Queens, she participated in the Pacific war and was the first attack troop transport to arrive at Iwo Jima. After the war she was decommissioned as the SS Excambion, one of the post-war "four aces" of the American Export Lines. As the Excambion, she carried cargo and passengers between New York City and Mediterranean ports. Most recently, from 1965-1996, she served as a maritime training vessel for Texas A&M University-Galveston. The Texas Clipper will continue to serve after Nov. 15, 2007—as an artificial reef at her final resting place 134 feet below the Gulf of Mexico. As a dive and fishing destination, the Texas Clipper is expected to generate as much as $30 million annually for local economies.

Deer Hunting Forecast - South Texas Plains (Region V)

Deer should be fat this year and fawn crops should be 50 percent or better, even on marginal ranges, according to TPWD district biologist Joe Herrera in Pleasanton. He reported antler quality should also be excellent this fall. "The deer are not moving much due to the good habitat conditions, and are eating very little supplemental feed," said Herrera. "With the great range conditions consisting of tall grasses and green brush it may be difficult to hunt this season." With the high fawn survival biologists are expecting this fall, managers will have their work cut out for them trying to keep the deer population at healthy levels before the next drought hits. (More info)

New Texas Game Warden Training Facility Project Underway (All regions)

The Texas Legislature has authorized TPWD to use funds from the sale of the current 6.6-acre Game Warden Academy property in Austin to develop a new training facility. The balance of the approximately $15 million needed to complete the academy and endow its operations will come from private donations. Already, the Texas Game Warden Association and the Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation have raised about $4.5 million for the center. The new facility will require road construction, water, telecommunications and electric improvements and expansion; upgrades to existing facilities; security fencing and walkways; site signage and other infrastructure enhancements. The planned campus will include a water rescue training facility with swimming pool, an emergency vehicle operations course, a firing range, classrooms, an armory and much more. All told, more than 39,000 square feet of instructional, administrative and living space is planned for the property. All buildings and facilities at the Texas Game Warden Training Center will meet LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification standards. Fundraising is a partnership effort involving the TPWD, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation and the Texas Game Warden Association.