BALMORHEA— Balmorhea State Park’s iconic San Solomon Springs pool has reopened to the public in time for swimming season following several months of restoration work. The pool was closed last May after damage to the concrete apron under the diving board was discovered during the pool’s annual cleaning.
AUSTIN – In 2017, the 85th Texas Legislature provided $6.3 million to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department for aquatic invasive species management in 2018-2019. With this and previous investments, the department has continued to expand prevention and control efforts against aquatic invasive species like giant salvinia, zebra mussels, giant cane and many others that cause environmental and economic harm to Texas.
LA GRANGE— The historic Kreische House, located within Monument Hill and Kreische Brewery State Historic Site, will be entering the next project phase of preservation efforts as a comprehensive condition assessment nears completion. The assessment included studies with extensive testing and analysis to gauge the integrity of the structure and to identify public access concerns before major restoration work gets underway.
AUSTIN – The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) is now accepting public comment on proposed changes to freshwater fishing regulations for 2019-2020. The proposed changes include modifications to the length limits and harvest regulations for largemouth bass, Alabama bass and alligator gar in certain areas. The proposed changes to alligator gar regulations also include a statewide nighttime prohibition on bow fishing, mandatory harvest reporting statewide except for Falcon Lake, and the creation of a drawing for harvest opportunity on the Trinity River.
AUSTIN – The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) is now accepting public comment on proposed changes to hunting regulations for 2019-2020. The proposed changes include implementation and expansion of white-tailed deer “doe days,” an experimental mule deer antler restriction in Lynn County, a clarification on turkey harvest requirements, and season dates and bag limits for migratory game birds.
AUSTIN – The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) is now accepting public comment on proposed changes to saltwater fishing regulations for 2019-2020. These changes are intended to streamline regulations for the entire Texas coast for spotted seatrout and modified regulations for certain species to be in line with federal rules to reduce confusion among anglers for sharks and cobia.
The following items are compiled from recent Texas Parks and Wildlife Department law enforcement reports.
AUSTIN – The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department is proposing changes to fishing regulations for alligator gar, the largest and longest-lived freshwater fish in the state, to be voted on at the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission meeting March 20 in Austin. The proposed changes are intended to help the Department conserve and prevent the overharvest of older, mature alligator gar; fill data gaps through mandatory harvest reporting; and allow for limited opportunity to harvest large alligator gar from the Trinity River by creating a drawing system.
AUSTIN— Planning a day or overnight trip to a Texas State Park just got easier with new online features available in the Texas State Parks reservation system. The new options allow visitors to reserve a specific campsite, buy day passes in advance and buy or renew a Texas State Parks Pass online.
AUSTIN —Each February for 17 years, countless volunteers spend 10 days on the water along the Texas coastline searching the bays for abandoned crab traps left to foul shrimpers’ nets, snag anglers’ lines, “ghost fish,” and create unsightly views. To date, they’ve hauled off more than 35,000 of these derelict traps.