AUSTIN – The Llano River in Texas has been named one of 10 “Waters to Watch” for 2011 in the National Fish Habitat Action Plan. The watch list doesn’t necessarily indicate waters in trouble, but points to those that will benefit from strategic conservation efforts to protect, restore or enhance them, thus providing models for good work elsewhere.
Washington, DC – Under an unprecedented agreement announced today by the Natural Resource Trustees for the Deepwater Horizon oil spill (Trustees), BP has agreed to provide $1 billion toward early restoration projects in the Gulf of Mexico to address injuries to natural resources caused by the spill. The Trustees involved are: Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, Texas, the Department of the Interior (DOI), and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The Department of Justice provided assistance in reaching the agreement.
WESLACO, TX—After operating for decades as a popular, privately run Methodist church camp retreat, Camp Thicket is now open to the public as a part of Estero Llano Grande State Park, located in the central Rio Grande Valley area of South Texas.
AUSTIN – Wildfires around Possum Kingdom Lake today covered more than 150,000 acres, continuing to threaten Possum Kingdom State Park and Palo Pinto County communities, forcing the evacuation of several communities and closure of Possum Kingdom Fish Hatchery located just below the reservoir dam.
Austin – Thousands of Texas children will explore and learn more about the states’ cultural and natural resources thanks to more than $622,000 in Community Outdoor Outreach Program (CO-OP) grants from Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.
ATHENS—Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) will begin stocking channel catfish the week of April 18 into two Houston-area lakes that are part of the Neighborhood Fishin’ program.
AUSTIN – Survey results show last year’s giant salvinia public awareness campaign by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department reached more than half of boaters living within 60 miles of four East Texas lakes targeted in the effort and that 96 percent of those boaters said they were “more likely to clean their boat, trailer or gear as a result of seeing information or advertising.”
AUSTIN – Despite the concerted efforts of dozens of state and federal firefighters, a wind-whipped wildfire that has raged for days in North Texas and grown to more than 40,000 acres roared through Possum Kingdom State Park Sunday afternoon, burning 90 percent of the 1,500-acre park. No one was injured and no structures were lost, though minor damage to one cabin and linen building was reported.
ATHENS—The annual Cinco de Mayo celebration at the Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center will take place from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. May 7.
ATHENS—Faron McCain of Sweetwater went fishing at O.H. Ivie Reservoir April 14 intending to catch a big largemouth bass on her spawning bed, and he did just that.