May 9, 2013

Lake Conroe Conservation Efforts Receive State, National Recognition

ATHENS—Lake Conroe has suffered more than its share of ups and downs over the years—pun intended.

May 7, 2013

Mother Nature is the Best Gift for Mom

This Mother’s Day, Texas Parks and Wildlife suggests that Texans give mom a chance to relax with a family picnic at one of more than 90 Texas state parks. Picnicking can be a fresh alternative to traditional Mother’s Day events; the agency suggests you take mom to a park, where you can enjoy activities like hiking or birding, along with sharing a picnic.

Gulf Shrimp Season Closing May 23

AUSTIN — The Gulf of Mexico commercial shrimp season for both Texas and federal waters will close 30 minutes after sunset on May 23 until a still-to-be determined time in July.

May 2, 2013

Texas to Receive Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill Restoration Funding

AUSTIN – Five Texas-based projects totaling about $18 million have been proposed to begin to compensate Texas for lost human use of natural resources resulting from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. The three artificial reef and two state park projects are part of the latest round of early restoration led by state and federal Natural Resource Damage Assessment trustees.

May 1, 2013

Report Shows Hunting Remains Safe Outdoor Activity

AUSTIN, Texas — Hunting accidents and fatalities in Texas continued their long-term decline in 2012, still below three accidents per 100,000 hunters in recent years.

Toyota ShareLunker Season Ends with Mixed Results

ATHENS—The Toyota ShareLunker program received a below-average number of entries during the season just ended, but the number of lakes producing 13-pound or bigger largemouth bass continued to increase, and investments in DNA testing showed promising results.

Texas State-Fish Art Contest Announces 2013 Winners

ATHENS—The Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center, headquarters for the Texas division of Wildlife Forever’s State-Fish Art Contest, has announced the Texas division winners for 2013.

April 30, 2013

Houston toad tadpoles released at Bastrop State Park

A small pond in Bastrop State Park welcomed home 1,500 Houston toad tadpoles that were released Tuesday morning after being raised to maturity in captivity. The endangered toad is surviving in the park, despite last year’s catastrophic wildfire.

Texas Game Warden Recognized by Texas Environmental Enforcement Task Force

AUSTIN — The Texas Environmental Law Enforcement Association (TELEA) has recognized Texas game warden Sgt. Robert Waggett as the state’s 2013 Environmental Investigator of the Year.

April 23, 2013

Texas and Louisiana Fisheries Agencies File Joint Lawsuit Challenging Red Snapper Emergency Rule

AUSTIN – Late yesterday, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) and the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) and its commission joined together to file a lawsuit in United States District Court in Brownsville, Texas challenging an emergency regulation enacted by the federal National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) that, if left in place, would allow the NMFS regional administrator to significantly reduce the recreational red snapper season in federal waters off the coasts of Texas and Louisiana.