BALMORHEA— Starting Memorial Day weekend, Balmorhea State Park will be limiting its day-use visitation to 1,300 park goers per day. This change is a new effort at Balmorhea to preserve the delicate resources at the park-including some threatened and endangered species- as well as the quality of experience park visitors expect to have.
ATHENS – Over the 31-year history of the Toyota ShareLunker program, few fish have made as many headlines as the five largemouth bass entered this season. With two landmark genetic connections, two reservoirs producing their first 13-pound or larger ShareLunker bass, and a new water body record set at a lake not often considered to be a largemouth bass fishery, the anglers who caught and donated these fish made their mark on Texas fishing this year.
AUSTIN – The inaugural Toyota Bassmaster Texas Fest (TBTF) scheduled for May 17-21 on Sam Rayburn Reservoir may be replacing the Toyota Texas Bass Classic (TTBC), but the support for youth fishing outreach initiatives in Texas and the fish-friendly catch, weigh and immediate release tournament format lives on.
AUSTIN— With their popularity soaring, visitation at Texas State Parks has increased by more than half a million visits in the past four years, making entrance into the system’s more popular sites difficult. Instead of waiting in line to enter a park, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) staff are recommending visitors explore some of the area’s lesser known sites that offer park goers less crowds and unique experiences for their family adventures.
WICHITA FALLS – Biologists from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Inland Fisheries office in Wichita Falls recently completed fall electrofishing and spring gillnet surveys on Possum Kingdom Reservoir, finding striped bass populations to be at their highest in 14 years.
AUSTIN— The findings from an unprecedented national study of Americans’ relationship to nature reveal an alarming disconnection, but also widespread opportunities for reconnecting. The results are prompting nature conservation, environmental education, and outdoor recreation leaders to rethink how they work to connect people with nature.
GRAPELAND— Experience how early Texas settlers lived at the 12th annual Mission Tejas Folk Festival 10 a.m. — 3 p.m. Saturday, April 29, at Mission Tejas State Park.
SAN ANTONIO – A new wheelchair accessible nature trail will be unveiled at Government Canyon State Natural Area at a ribbon cutting ceremony at 9 a.m., Saturday, April 22. The 1.25-mile Discovery Trail and will connect with the ADA accessible nature playscape that was opened last month.
MONT BELVIEU – The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) is inviting the public to take part in the free 2nd Annual Spring Outdoor Celebration from noon to 5 p.m. at the Mont Belvieu City Park east of Houston on April 22nd. This celebration of the outdoors offers a chance for kids and families to participate in and learn more about fun activities in the natural environment.
FORT DAVIS – Davis Mountains State Park, in cooperation with the Chili Appreciation Society International (CASI), is bringing good food, fun and delicious competition back to the mountains this spring with the Third Annual Mile High Chili Cook Off from noon - 4 p.m., Saturday, April 22.