Passport to Texas

This is Passport to Texas

If not for the invention of the automobile, we might not have state parks. Our state park guide, Bryan Frazier explains.

The state park system in Texas, this year, is 88 years old. It started back in 1923; Governor Pat Neff was there at the forefront of that. In fact, Mother Neff SP was considered the first state park.

That’s really the heritage of most state park systems in the United States. And it’s been great; it evolved today here in Texas to be more than 600-thousand acres of beautiful state parks, historic sites, great camping and great fishing. So, it’s origin goes back to that, in the1920s, and it is what it is today thanks to so many people.

Thanks, Bryan.

Learn more about the park system at texasstateparks.org.

That’s our show for today…with funding provided by Chevrolet…building dependable, reliable trucks for more than 90 years.

For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.

A Brief History of Texas State Parks Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

This is Passport to Texas

Over the next quarter century or less, Texas will have to find water for twice the population it has currently, and still meet the needs of the environment.

Andrew Sansom, Executive Director of the River Systems Institute at Texas State University in San Marcos, says it’s no surprise people find this fact daunting.

And they say, ‘What in the world can I do?’ And I answer them by saying two things. One: everyone can save more water in their home. Everyone can do something in terms of their behavior that 0uts more emphasis on water conservation.

But more even important, everyone during the course of a year can take a child fishing, swimming, kayaking, canoeing, to the beach—to expose a child to water in the natural systems. So that they can understand what incredible joys are to be found there, but also that they must take responsibility for it.

Go to texasthestateofwater.org for more information.

The Sport Fish and Wildlife restoration supports our program….and funds conservation projects in Texas.

For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.

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This is Passport to Texas

Legislators, alone, cannot ensure a future that provides an abundant supply of water for humans, fish and wildlife.

This month, as we observe the 10th anniversary of Texas Parks and Wildlife magazine’s water issue, Executive Director, Carter Smith, reminds us that all Texans have a role to play when it comes to conserving this vital resource.

We all miss water when it’s not around. And ultimately we have to plan for those kinds of scenarios, and remember that the future of our water is a generational one.

And so, these are important things that every one of us as a citizen and steward can take to help ensure the vitality of this water for the future.

Go to texasthestateofwater.org for more information.

The Sport Fish and Wildlife Restoration Supports our program….and funds conservation projects in Texas.

For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.

Conservation: Conserving Water in Texas Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

This is Passport to Texas

Fishing just got a lot easier thanks to a series of “how-to” videos you can find on YouTube from Texas Parks and Wildlife. Producer Whitney Bishop.

We teach family fishing events where we teach kids how to fish. And what we found was that a lot of parents had gotten a little rusty on fishing. You know, maybe it had been years since they’d been, and they’d forgotten the basics. So, we developed a series of short Fishing 101 videos to give people the basic skills they need to go out fishing.

…our Fishing 101 series takes a step back and gives you the basics: everything you need to know about fishing but were afraid to ask.

Thanks, Whitney.

Go to YouTube.com to see the videos.

The Sport Fish Restoration program supports our series and works to increase fishing and boating opportunities in Texas.

For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.

Fishing 101 Videos Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

This is Passport to Texas

We call searching the Internet surfing. But, we call searching a net that’s been in the surf, seining.

06—Seining is dragging a long net through the water, catching small fish and aquatic animals.

Hans Haglund is an interpretive ranger at Galveston Island State Park. He says the bay waters are teaming with all kind of life. And he’s taken more than a few visitors seining in Galveston Bay.

11—We do it to help educate about the bay, the wetlands, the environment out here; to show people how important they are, how productive they are, what these areas do for us, why we might need to protect them and look out for them.

Abundant, healthy wetlands can help to mitigate potential flood damage, as well as serve as nurseries for marine life. Haglund describes visitor reactions to what they catch in their seine nets.

09—Oh, I never know that was out there, and I never knew you could get so much in a little area. Even people that have been using the bay a lot – a lot of fishermen – don’t realize how productive these areas are.

Some of the more unusual fish Haglund says they see include the pipe fish and lizard fish.

Summer’s right around the corner and Galveston Island State Park offers a great coastal getaway. Learn more at texasstateparks.org.

The Sport Fish and Wildlife Restoration Program supports our series…and works to increase fishing and boating opportunities in Texas.

For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.

Bay Seining Play Now | Play in Popup | Download