Passport to Texas

Passport to Texas from Texas Parks and Wildlife and the Wildlife Restoration Program

Richland Creek Wildlife Management Area is 80 miles southeast of Dallas.

Richland Creek Wildlife Management Area [WMA] is approximately 14-thousand acres that lies almost totally within the Trinity River Flood plain. It’s a large block of bottomland hardwood habitat.

Jeffery Gunnels is a wildlife biologist for Richland Creek Wildlife Management Area.

Parks and Wildlife Department acquired Richland Creek Wildlife Management Area in 1987. It was deeded to the state from the Tarrant Regional Water District as a mitigation property when the Richland Chambers reservoir was constructed. That was to satisfy their requirements under the US Army Corps of engineers section 404 permit.

It wasn’t long before a wide array of bird species started arriving.

The WMA is a very good place to find species of birds. On our North Unit we have lots of different wading birds such as great egrets, great blue herons, snowy egrets, lots of ibises, roseate spoonbills and a wide variety of other shorebirds that migrate through the spring. It’s also very, very good wintering waterfowl habitat. We regularly over winter lots of waterfowl and have lots of waterfowl hunting in the fall months.

That’s our show….supported by the Wildlife Restoration Program providing funding for the operations and management of more than 50 wildlife management areas.

For Texas Parks and Wildlife…Cecilia Nasti

Richland Creek Wildlife Management Area Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Passport to Texas from Texas Parks and Wildlife and the Sport Fish and Wildlife Restoration Program

When mist cloaks Caddo Lake it’s easy to understand how the lore and legend about this east Texas destination came to pass.

Native American legend says a giant flood created Caddo Lake. Others say an earthquake was responsible.

Meanwhile, scientists believe the lake formed when floodwaters, blocked by massive log jams on the Red River, backed up into the Cypress Bayou watershed, forming the lake.

One thing that is true: Caddo Lake’s beauty. And visitors to Caddo Lake State Park/WMA not only experience nature at her most beguiling, they also have a plethora of recreational opportunities — from hiking to hunting – to choose from.

With an annual public hunting permit, hunters may harvest deer, eastern wild turkey, and quail during appropriate seasons. Licensed anglers find largemouth bass, catfish and brim plentiful in the lake.

Find more on Caddo Lake SP/WMA at passporttotexas.org.

That’s our show, made possible by the Sport Fish and Wildlife Restoration program providing funding for the operations and management of more than 50 wildlife management areas.

For Texas parks and wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.

Caddo Lake State Park / Wildlife Management Area Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Passport to Texas from Texas Parks and Wildlife and the Sport Fish and Wildlife Restoration Program

When mist cloaks Caddo Lake it’s easy to understand how the lore and legend about this east Texas destination came to pass.

Native American legend says a giant flood created Caddo Lake. Others say an earthquake was responsible.

Meanwhile, scientists believe the lake formed when floodwaters, blocked by massive log jams on the Red River, backed up into the Cypress Bayou watershed, forming the lake.

One thing that is true: Caddo Lake’s beauty. And visitors to Caddo Lake State Park/WMA not only experience nature at her most beguiling, they also have a plethora of recreational opportunities — from hiking to hunting – to choose from.

With an annual public hunting permit, hunters may harvest deer, eastern wild turkey, and quail during appropriate seasons. Licensed anglers find largemouth bass, catfish and brim plentiful in the lake.

Find more on Caddo Lake SP/WMA at passporttotexas.org.

That’s our show, made possible by the Sport Fish and Wildlife Restoration program providing funding for the operations and management of more than 50 wildlife management areas.

For Texas parks and wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.

Caddo Lake State Park / Wildlife Management Area Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Passport to Texas from Texas Parks and Wildlife and the Wildlife Restoration Program

Wetlands are an integral part of the natural water system of Texas, and only sustainable when viewed as a whole in which all of the parts are preserved and protected. This thinking is the inspiration behind a new general wetland walk podcast for Texas, and a site specific podcast about the Spring Lake wetlands at Aquarena Center in San Marcos.

Well, it’s a really unique ecosystem because it’s home to five and maybe six endangered species. They’ve just recently discovered the Comal Riffle Beetle in Spring Lake. And so it’s critical habitat; and it’s protected by the US Fish and Wildlife Service. And, recreational activities are prohibited in Spring lake. And that does make it a really special place.

Lisa Korth is education coordinator for the Freshwater Resources program in San Marcos. The podcast is a collaborative effort between Parks and Wildlife, Texas State University-San Marcos and Texas Watch.

TPWD [Texas parks and Wildlife] has a framework for interpretation that starts with experience. And it leads to awareness, understanding, caring about and caring for, and ultimately leading to stewardship. So, by creating that first step – that outdoor experience – we are hopefully creating stewards for our natural resources for future generations.

The wetland walk podcast is available for download at passporttotexas.org. Find it under web exclusives.

That’s our show for today… we receive support from the Wildlife Restoration program…providing funding for wetland conservation through the Private Lands Enhancement Program.

For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti

Wetlands Walk -- Endangered Species Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Passport to Texas from Texas Parks and Wildlife and the Wildlife Restoration Program

Texas Parks and Wildlife, in conjunction with Texas State University-San Marcos and Texas Watch, developed a podcast that takes listeners on a wetland walking tour.

Well, we created a Texas wetlands podcast. And then we also have another version that’s site specific for the Aquarena wetlands, which are at Spring Lake in San Marcos.

Lisa Korth is education coordinator for the Freshwater Resources program in San Marcos.

Wetlands are an integral part of the natural water system of Texas. Because it’s really only sustainable if we view it as a whole in which all of the parts are preserved and protected. And that was a real inspiration to create this podcast.

Korth says she believes the wetlands walk podcast will help to create a more enriching outdoor experience for those who take part.

At Texas Parks and Wildlife we think life is better outside. And so, we’re trying to come up with as many outreach opportunities as we can to get people outside, and this is a great way for someone to go to a wetland and have something that they can take with them on their mp3 player, or their phone, to learn about the importance of wetlands as a natural resource.

More on wetlands and where to download the podcast on tomorrow’s show.

That’s our show for today… with support from the Wildlife Restoration program…providing funding for wetland conservation through the Private Lands Enhancement
Program

For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti
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Texas Treasures: Wetlands [You will need Adobe Reader]

Wetlands Walk Podcast Play Now | Play in Popup | Download