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Texas Battles Giant Salvinia at Caddo Lake

Photo of Giant Salvinia

During the first in week of June, in partnership with the Cypress Valley Navigation District and the Caddo Lake Institute, the Inland Fisheries Division of Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) launched an offensive against giant salvinia on Caddo Lake. “We are at a tipping point with giant salvinia coverage on Caddo Lake,” said Craig Bonds, TPWD’s regional director for inland fisheries, in a department news release. “If we don’t get on it heavily, we could lose this battle and experience increased levels of giant salvinia, to the point where we won’t be able to control it. We will never eradicate it. This is going to be an on-going fight.” The battle against giant salvinia is being fought mainly by the herbicide boats and a mechanical harvester that gobbles up the plant from the surface of the water and carries it to shore for disposal.

Salvinia-eating weevils are also in use on several lakes, but results are slow. TPWD and Cypress Valley Navigation District crews will be on the lake applying Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-approved herbicides until about June 12. Each of the five spray boats operating can cover about 40 acres per day. While efforts to combat giant salvinia are expensive–$64,000 for herbicides alone for the current operation–experts say the cost of doing nothing would be greater. Continue reading Texas Battles Giant Salvinia at Caddo Lake

Hinton Added to Texas Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame

On Saturday June 6, 2009, Paul Hinton of Hemphill was inducted into the Texas Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame at the Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center in Athens. Congratulations go out to Mr. Hinton for his selection! He was honored for his contributions as a communicator and educator due to 20 years of service as the Texas founder and director of East Texas Get Hooked on Fishing, Not Drugs. Following retirement from the insurance industry, Hinton began a new career as an outdoor writer and educator, concentrating his efforts on introducing kids to fishing as an alternative to drugs. Hinton introduced thousands of children to fishing while partnering with Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) to also teach boating and water safety and fish identification. A TPWD video documenting his work will become a permanent exhibit in the Texas Freshwater Fishing Center Hall of Fame area.

Economic Impact of Hunting in Texas

Many Americans don’t know it, but North American wildlife, woods, and waters have been managed, conserved, and protected for many decades primarily because hunters have pushed for it–and helped pay for it. In 1938, Congress created the Pittman-Robertson/Wildlife Restoration federal aid program. In 1950, federal lawmakers followed up with the Dingell-Johnson/Sport Fish Restoration program. Since then, federal taxes on sporting goods created by these laws have provided $9.5 billion for state-based wildlife conservation. This highly successful conservation model has made possible the restoration and management of deer, turkey, game fish and a host of other game animals, many of which have come back from severe depletion around 1900 to record abundance today. By focusing on the habitat that sustains all wildlife, hunter-driven conservation has also benefited threatened and endangered species and nongame animals. It is only recently that non-hunters have come to appreciate the economic impact of hunting.

The economic impact of hunting is big. Texas hunters are a major economic force, with an annual economic impact of more than $4.6 billion. Sportsmen support more than twice the jobs in Texas than Dell Computer Corp., Lockheed Martin, Electronic Data Systems and Dow Chemical Co. combined (106,000 jobs vs. 49,000). In 2006, there were 1.1 million hunters (residents and nonresidents), hunting a total of 14 million days in Texas. Of the total hunters in Texas, 978,697 were state residents and 122,589 were nonresidents. Continue reading Economic Impact of Hunting in Texas

White Nose Syndrome in Bats

Bats can get white nose syndrome

Scientist and doctors are aware of the serious potential threat posed by the fungal disease known as white nose syndrome to bat populations. Many are coordinating with partner groups like Bat Conservation International and others and considering actions to protect bats across the United States. Most agencies are attempting to prevent people from transporting fungus spores which could infect bats. White-nose syndrome has not yet been detected in many states, so everyone should consider preventive measures to protect bat colonies before problems arise. The syndrome has killed hundreds of thousands of bats in many U.S. states and can kill up to 95 percent of bats at a single site once infected.

Texas, including the cave-rich Edwards Plateau region in the central Hill Country, is one of North America’s most important regions for bats. Texas has more public bat-viewing locations than any other state. That includes the largest known bat colony in the world, Bracken Cave near San Antonio. The Lone Star state also boasts the US’ most famous urban bat colony, the Congress Avenue Bridge in Austin. So although white nosed syndrome has not been documented in Texas bats, below are some key points about bats and why it is important that this bat illness not invade local populations. Continue reading White Nose Syndrome in Bats

Mississippi Alligator Hunting Applications

It’s hard to beat the excitement of an alligator hunting trip that results in a big bull gator, but before you can tag that prehistoric reptile you have got to get your application submitted if you plan on hunting in Mississippi. The Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks reminds gator hunters that there are hunting opportunities on both public waters and private lands in 2009.

This year there are two public waters zones open to limited alligator hunting opportunities, the Pearl River/Ross Barnett Zone near Jackson and the Pascagoula River Zone in Jackson County. As in past years, applications are limited to Mississippi residents 16 years of age or older. If you have been looking forward to chasing gators get your applications in as soon as possible. The public waters season application deadline is June 15. Continue reading Mississippi Alligator Hunting Applications

Texas Online Boat Registration Website

Wildlife News: Boat Registration in Texas is a must

Summer is just around the corner and that means boaters will be taking to the water. And that means everyone needs to get their boat registrations in order before hitting the lake. Here are few helpful reminders that may prevent problems for boat owners: Purchasing a boat from an individual? Check the ownership information first, it’s easy to do and free. You can see whether the boat has a title and determine who is listed as the owner and if that matches to the person (or their legal representative) that you are buying the boat from. Avoid buying a boat with existing problems by determining is a lien exists and whether it has been released by the bank. Avoid situations noted on the record where an issue exists that will prevent a smooth transfer of ownership. Remember, when a title has been issued, you’ll need the seller to provide the title with the purchaser’s name and address listed on the back of the title and a bill of sale to complete the transfer into your name.

Didn’t get your registration renewal notice? Check the ownership information to see if you need to update your address. Providing an updated address is free and easy by using Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s form PWD 143-M (boats) or PWD 144-M (outboard motors). All forms may be downloaded online or picked up at a registration and inspection office. Texas experiences all kind of weather events — did a boat wash up on your property during the most recent hurricane or flood? Use the ownership information to connect with the owners. Continue reading Texas Online Boat Registration Website

Trinity River News Direct to You

Trinity River Information and Data will soon be available.

A new web site, radio series, and upcoming video documentary about the Trinity River were recently announced by public television station KERA-TV in Dallas. The extensive Trinity River web site for the project allows visitors to explore the geography, ecology and cultural history of the river through interactive maps, videos, and photographs. The river’s site includes a living archive where visitors can also share personal memories and observations about the Trinity and the current plans to redevelop. The web site is presented in pertinent sections.

Explore offers a map-based history of Dallas’ attempts to manage the river’s tendency to flood and looks at the challenges of managing pollution in the river. Visualize shows visitors the Trinity River system as a whole and offers an interactive way to experience the hidden beauty of the vast network of creeks, forks, and water sources that feed the river in North Texas. Voices features a collection of short interviews with people who offer their memories and observations about the river. Visitors are invited to share their own memories and opinions and contribute photographs and videos in the Share/Community section of the site. Continue reading Trinity River News Direct to You