Passport to Texas

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="460"]Johnny Spruiell of Iowa caught ShareLunker 546 , Cody Talley, © Texas Parks and Wildlife Department[/caption] This is Passport to Texas Anglers know they can find big bass in Texas. 06—We have more big bass caught in Texas than anywhere I know of. I’m talking about anywhere in the United States or anywhere in the world. From its inception in 1986, until he retired from Parks and Wildlife in 2012, David Campbell coordinated the bass spawning program at Parks and Wildlife, called the Toyota ShareLunker program. 17—I know there’s been some bigger fish caught in California, Florida—but it’s the numbers of big fish. And the anglers can go to almost any reservoir in the state of Texas and have the potential of catching a thirteen pound plus large-mouth bass. I don’t think that Anyone else can come close to that. Anglers who reel in largemouth bass weighing 13-pounds or more are encouraged to donate their catch to the ShareLunker program. The donated bass enter into a spawning program, with the hope of creating faster growing, bigger bass. 11—We’ve had somewhere in the neighborhood of three quarter of a million fry from the sharelunkers through the years. We only had one year last year. We’ve had some years we didn’t have any spawn. Then some years we might have five, six or seven spawn. The challenges of breeding bass in captivity…that’s tomorrow. That’s our show for today…with support fro the Sport Fish Restoration Program…providing funding for the Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center in Athens… For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="460"]Bastrop State Park[/caption] This is Passport to Texas The Civilian Conservation Corps, or the CCC, was fundamental in the development of the state and the national park systems. Our state park guide, Bryan Frazier, says this month we’re celebrating the program’s 80th anniversary. 56 –We’re doing a reunion and an anniversary honor for the 80th year of the CCC; it’s going to be at Palo Duro Canyon, April 6th and 7th. And so we’re putting out a call for someone who might know of someone or be related to someone who served in a CCC camp – we especially want you at this event. But the public is also invited. There will be displays of the craftsmanship of the CCC; American Youthworks will be there and they’ll do a demonstration of constructing a bench form a log, and they’ll show how the CCC worked by hand to build these amazing pieces of furniture and these amazing structures that still are in use today. Here in Texas we have 29 state parks that bear the signature of the CCC. April 8 & 7 at majestic Palo Duro Canyon in the Panhandle. We want people to come and enjoy that, and see what the CCC represented and the legacy that it has today. Thanks, Bryan. Find additional information at texasstateparks.org. That’s our show for today…with funding provided by Chevrolet, supporting outdoor recreation in Texas; because there’s life to be done. For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="460"]Sheryl Smith Rodgers[/caption] This is Passport to Texas The article Nurturing Nature in the April issue of Texas Parks and Wildlife magazine, highlights the Texas Master Naturalist program. 07 – I just wanted to give readers a flavor of what Texas Master Naturalists are doing across the state. What they are doing, says author, Sheryl Smith Rodgers, is increasing public awareness about the natural world in which they live. 20—You know, our state’s undergoing so much growth, and we’re losing so much of our natural ecosystems to subdivisions and shopping centers. People like master naturalists, who have more of an awareness of how important those elements are to our overall lifestyle, they’re going to share what they know with others and just raise awareness that we need to protect these areas. Master Naturalists undergo weeks of training, says Smith Rodgers, who, herself, is a certified Master Naturalist. 25 – The classes cover geology, native grasses… Last spring I took my training from March into May. We went to different places. You don’t just sit in a classroom. You have field outings; you go out and actually look at the native grasses. We went to Jacob’s Well near Wimberley and talked about hydrology. You just cover a whole lot of different topics. Once certified, citizens volunteer in their communities. There are more than 40 chapters statewide. Find more information on the TPW website. The April issue of Texas Parks and Wildlife magazine with Sheryl Smith Rodgers’ article Nurturing Nature is on newsstands now. For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="460"]Sheryl Smith Rodgers, from www.commanderben.com[/caption] This is Passport to Texas They say you never forget your first love. For writer her first love had eight legs. 07 – Spiders are my first love, and from there I grew into plants and animals. Eager to fully understand the natural world around her, Smith Rodgers completed Texas Master Naturalist training. 20 – I’m with the Highland lakes chapter, which is based out of Burnet. So you learn about your own ecosystems in your region. I’m learning about the plants that are indigenous to this area. Whereas, if you live on the coast, you’ll be learning about those kinds of plants. So, we’re all learning what’s important to our area. Trainees learn about living things in their ecosystem, as well as their region’s geology, hydrology and more. After receiving certification, Smith Rodgers says Master Naturalists volunteer in their communities where needed. 23 – Volunteers go to ranches and survey the plant species, and they offer land management advice. In a city, volunteers might go into a city park and create a butterfly garden. For instance, here in Blanco – at Blanco State Park – the Master Naturalists help put on program every May for third graders. They do so many different things [laughs]. Tomorrow: Learn how to become a Texas Master Naturalist. For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="460"]Washboard mussel[/caption] This is Passport to Texas Texas Parks and Wildlife is recruiting citizen experts to volunteer for biological inventory teams to monitor four species groups on private lands. 17—We’re wanting to put together teams of experts throughout the state to work within each wildlife district to monitor four groups of species: one for herps, one for plants, one for invertebrates and then, also, one for birds. Biologist and program coordinator, Marsha May, says the data Biological Inventory Teams collect will become part of the Texas Natural Diversity Database. 18—That database includes information on rare species throughout the state—their locations—and that information is used by various entities. Well, that database has a lot of holes; we’re hoping to fill in a lot of those holes with information collected by these volunteers. Anyone with expertise with the previously mentioned species groups may volunteer. Individuals will participate in an orientation, and may choose the counties they wish to work. 12—We would have a training to give them information on what is expected, what type of monitoring that would be required. The protocol involved each group of species. Find complete details on volunteering for biological inventory teams on the Texas Parks and Wildlife website under Texas Nature Trackers. That’s our show for today…with support from the WSFR program…providing funding for a variety of conservation projects throughout Texas. For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="460"]Image: CHASE A. FOUNTAIN - TPWD ©2009[/caption] This is Passport to Texas With the help of biological inventory teams of citizen scientists, Texas Parks and Wildlife plans to monitor the plants… herps… 02—Which are the amphibians and reptiles… …birds and invertebrates… 05—…and that would mainly be: butterflies, dragonflies, beetles, bumblebees and such…. …in Texas’ 8 wildlife districts; biologist Marsha May oversees the program. She says she’s recruiting experts statewide to join these monitoring teams. 24—Mostly, we’re looking at hobbyists; people who have joined herp societies. They know their herps. As well as birders. There’s people involved in Audubon society’s that know their birds. So those are the types of people [as well as those with expertise in native plants and invertebrates] that we’re looking for, for these projects. These biological inventory teams will monitor species on private land. 17—So, my plan is to start with organizing teams throughout the state. And once we get good, solid teams in place, then we’re going to go out there and open it up to the landowners, and let them know that these teams are available to come and do surveys on their property. Knowing what’s on the land helps landowners becoming better stewards. Fine more information about the Biological Inventory Program on the Texas Parks and Wildlife website under Texas Nature Trackers. Our show receives support from the Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program. For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="460"]Image by Darcy Rocha, Rockwall, Texas[/caption] This is Passport to Texas Two state parks will be open for hunting on March 30th. Our State park Guide, Bryan Frazier, tells us what hunters hope to bag…or in this case: basket. 60—Some of our parks are having Easter Egg Hunts the day before Easter, which is Saturday, March 30th.Those are both in east Texas. It’s Cooper lake State Park, which is north of Interstate 30, east of Dallas, and Martin Dies, Jr. State Park, which is in southeast Texas. And both of them will divide the kids by age, where there will be more egg hunting and candy and things for the younger kids. And then, the older kids will have more prizes and games. They’re safe places to bring your kids. Cooper Lake State Park is waiving the entrance fee for this event. So, check our state parks website; there’s an events section there and calendar – and you can find out more about that at www.texasstateparks.org. But, we’re right now in the beginning of the outdoor visitation season for most people – and there’s a reason for that. The weather’s getting good and warm – it’s a beautiful time to be out in the parks. And Easter is just a precious time for small children, especially, to get outdoors, hunt those Easter Eggs, and be with your family outside. Thanks, Bryan. That’s our show for today…with funding provided by Chevrolet, supporting outdoor recreation in Texas; because there’s life to be done. For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="460"]TPW Magazine April Cover[/caption] This is Passport to Texas April is a gorgeous month in the state. The blue skies and mild weather always gets Texas Parks and Wildlife Magazine Editor Louie Bond thinking about the outdoor places she’d like to be. 61— This inspired our first article a couple of years ago called best of Texas Naturally. And that first year we just did staff picks. Last year we decided to expand that a little and we went throughout Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and asked for their nominations for their favorite natural things in Texas. So, this year, we’ve spread our circle even a little wider, and we’ve gone to the natural partners for Texas Parks and Wildlife. We have one called the best historical font, that’s not Times Roman, nominated by Andy Sansom, former Executive Director of the agency. And he nominated Aquarina Springs Resort, which is now called the Meadows Center for Water and the Environment. Another one is from another former TPWD guy, Larry McKinney at the Hart Institute. And he nominated the Devil’s River as The Best River to Know Where – which is the K-N-O-W kind of know where. So, you get where we’re going with this. And it’s all meant to inspire you for some new places to go and visit in this great state ours. So, we hope April inspires you to get out the rest of the year and enjoy Texas. Thanks, Louie. The April issue of Texas parks and Wildlife Magazine is on newsstands now. For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="460"]Tree planting in Bastrop State Park[/caption] This is Passport to Texas About 96% of Bastrop State Park burned in the 2011 Labor Day Wildfires. Since then, Texas Parks and Wildlife has been restoring the park with the help of various groups. Texas Parks and Wildlife TV producer Alan Fisher followed one group of young people from American Youth Works as they pitched in. 54 – The have a program called the Texas Conservation Corps. These young people are basically at a point in their life where they can take on a long-term stint working outdoors on public lands, doing various kinds of work, and getting a small stipend. But, they’re mostly there because they want to pitch in and contribute. I’m here because I used to come here as a kid, and I really enjoyed it; I want to give back to it. So, I followed them doing a variety of work; they were marking and clearing trees. They were also constructing bridges using materials from the park – using drought-killed and fire-killed trees. They can make lovely bridges, and they fit right in the with the CCC [Civilian Conservation Corps] look. Somebody referred to it as the CCC with tattoos and piercings. They are tattooed, they do have long hair and they have piercings -- but they are such kind, wonderful people. When they go out people recognize them and know the work that they’re doing, and they get thanked almost everywhere they go. I think it makes the long days a little easier for them. This segment airs on the Texas Parks and Wildlife TV Series during the last week of March on PBS stations; check your local listings. For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="460"]Kids out birding[/caption] This is Passport to Texas Competitive and casual birders are putting together teams for the Annual Great Texas Birding Classic; they’ll compete for a chance to help save avian habitat. Coordinator, Shelly Plante says the tournaments for all skill levels and ages, and can be great fun, 51—There have been people who do a big sit in their backyard. They get their friends to come over, they hang out; they make a day of it. This really is the tailgate party for birding. You can hang out and just have fun in a very small area and have friends visit throughout the day and see what birds you see, submit your checklist, and who knows – you might win. And let’s talk about winning and what that means. The winning team is the team in each category that sees or hears and identifies the most species of birds. What does that get you? For the kids, it will gets you some prizes. The rest of the teams are going to win winner’s certificates that recognize them as the winners of their tournament category. We’ll post it on the website. And then, some of the winning teams are going to select a conservation project that receives all this grant money. This event is self-funded; all registration fees that come in go into a pot of money for grants. Registration deadline is April 1st. Find tournament details at birdingclassic.org. For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="460"]Great Texas Birding Classic[/caption] This is Passport to Texas The Great Texas Birding Classic is statewide this year, runs April 15 through May 15, and offers tournaments, for all skill levels. Coordinator, Shelly Plante. 57—You can be a beginning birder and you can take part in just a Big Sit – that’s birding from a 17-foot-diameter circle. It’s really for fun; we call it the tailgate party of birding. Then there are the big days. Those people who want to go for 24 hours, be super competitive, see as many birds as they can, go as many places as they can, in a 24-hour period. In between these two extremes, you have the Sunrise to Noon Birder – a new tournament where you start at dawn and your bird until 12-noon. So, maybe you can’t get around as easily; maybe you don’t want to go to as many spots. But you do want to hit a handful of your favorite spots. This is the tournament for you. You don’t have to be running around all day. You can just have a lot of fun and go out with your friends. We also have kids tournaments, teenaged tournaments, tournaments for the blind. There really is something for everyone. I encourage you to go to the website to look at all the different kinds of categories and ways you can participate, because you do not have to be really competitive – you can go out and have a lot of fun. But, if you are competitive, there’s something for you, too. Registration deadline is April 1st. Find tournament details at birdingclassic.org. For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="460"]Assisting a child put up a tent[/caption] This is Passport to Texas It’s spring and folks are heading to state parks for outdoor fun. Our State Park Guide, Bryan Frazier, has tips to keep your family safe and comfy while outdoors. 58—A modest amount of common sense can really make that trip safe, enjoyable, and memorable so you’ll want to come back and do it again and again. Wear sunscreen, even in early spring; that old Texas sun can get pretty strong. Take extra precaution if you’re going to be around water. The warmer weather brings out all sorts of water critters like amphibians, snakes and turtles – and we want to take photos of them and observe them, but we don’t want to get too close. If you’re going to do paddling sports, check the water levels before you go. We’ve had drought in lots of areas. Check for burn bans before you go on your trip; a lot of people want that campfire experience, so check those burn bans. Spring is a great time for fishing, but make sure you take life jackets. There has to be a life jacket in a watercraft for everyone in the boat; children always have to wear theirs when they’re out on the water. So, keep these things in mind, and get outside and enjoy what spring is like in Texas. Thanks, Bryan. That’s our show for today…with funding provided by Chevrolet, supporting outdoor recreation in Texas; because there’s life to be done. For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="460"]Restoring pine trees[/caption] This is Passport to Texas TPW TV series producer, Don Cash, has followed the restoration of two east Texas state parks following Hurricane Rita eight years ago. He says there was a silver lining in that storm. 58— I’ve been able to go back a few times over the years and watch as the parks change, slowly. Martin Dies State park in Jasper, and Village Creek State Park down near Beaumont were pretty badly torn up. Where you [once] had a real thick canopy and a real thick forest, you [now] had lots of sky. What I found, though, going back and talking to people in the parks is that the hurricanes have allowed them to do some habitat management on a little quicker scale than they would have otherwise had the hurricane not come through. In east Texas, the forests were originally longleaf pine; when timber companies came through, they cut the longleaf and planted loblolly, which is native to the US, but not native to Texas. It’s a faster growing pine, but the loblolly and the longleaf have different habitats, different animal species, different ground cover. So, the hurricanes have allowed the loblollies to get knocked down, and will allow the people in the parks to replant and reforest in the native longleaf pine. Thanks, Don. The segment titled Restoring the Pines airs the week of March 17th on PBS stations. Check your Local listings. For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="460"]Austin watershed, Artwork Virginia Vaughan, vaughan.com[/caption] This is Passport to Texas Most urbanites don’t realize they reside in watersheds; they’re also unaware the vitality of these natural drainage systems affects their quality of life, and that their behavior inside the concrete jungle influences the natural world beyond it. How do we raise collective awareness? 04— One thing we’re doing is trying to get them out of those urban areas and on to the countryside to go enjoy it. Dr. Gary Garrett is state director of the watershed conservation program for Texas Parks and Wildlife. He says engaging nature leads to understanding and protecting it. 05— If you can use it, you support it; that’s just human nature. If you don’t use it, you’re not very interested in it. While Dr. Garrett’s work involves guiding landowners through proper land management practices – which affects water runoff, absorption, quality and quality – he says educating cities and their citizens about their role in protecting watersheds is critical. 21— That clean, abundant water that we all want takes work. I’d love to see cities fully embrace that, and actually invest in those upstream areas – for their own good – to help us preserve those… and to keep those solid clean flowing waters, and solid good environments available to use…and always there for your benefit. Learn more about watersheds when you log onto the Texas Parks and Wildlife website. The Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program supports our series and funds conservation projects in Texas. For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="460"]Guadalupe Bass[/caption] This is Passport to Texas Nearly 40 years ago, Texas Parks and Wildlife began stocking smallmouth bass in the streams and reservoirs in the Edwards Plateau region to improve Hill Country angling opportunities. The unforeseen result: the fish hybridized with the native Guadalupe Bass (known only to those waters) threatening to displace the State Fish of Texas. 02—It’s got its problems and its challenges. Dr. Gary Garrett says the plight of the species goes beyond hybridization. Inadequate land management caused changes to GB habitat, which also exacted a toll. Over the past 20 years, fisheries research biologists, like Dr. Garrett – who heads up the watershed conservation program for Texas Parks and Wildlife – landowners, and others have worked together to help improve land and conserve GB habitat using an ecosystem approach. 29— The help is everything from restoring grasslands on the uplands; helping to restore and preserve good riparian habitat; preventing erosion; keeping sediment flows properly balanced within the streams; good water quality and water quantity. You don’t just stock more fish and they’re happier and everything’s cool. You do all of these things together to make a solid, sound, healthy ecosystem, and everything flourishes within it – especially our state fish. Tomorrow: Life in the city affects life outside of the city. The Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program supports our series and funds conservation projects in Texas. For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.