Passport to Texas

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

The majority of species in Texas are non-game, and the recently completed Wildlife Action Plan is for them.

Well, the wildlife action plan is really a strategy for conserving non-game wildlife—wildlife and fish.

Matt Wagner, program director for wildlife diversity, says the action plan will help prioritize the needs among non-game species.

It took experts over about two years to compile those needs and priorities within each species group so that we can manage those species through the long term.

We have dedicated funding for game animals, but funding for the management and conservation of non-game species, and their habitat, has been scant, at best. The Wildlife Action Plan changes that.

Now that the plan has been complete, there are grants that are associated with the grant that come from the US Fish and Wildlife Service. And so, Texas Parks and Wildlife gets about 3-million dollars a year. We want to take that money and it has to be matched with non-federal dollars. So, we offer it to our private partners in terms of universities and others that want to apply for grants to help address those priorities in that plan.

Find a link to a summary of the plan at our website, passporttotexas.org.

That’s our show…with support from the Wildlife restoration program… providing funding for the Private Lands and Habitat Enhancement Program … For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.

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

Diane de la Garza used to be a competitive gymnast. But now she’s turned her attention to professional bass angling.

This compared to competitive gymnastics is very different. There are some similarities, with your determination and giving it your 100-percent. With fishing, there are so many factors out there: the weather, the fish…there’s little bit of luck to it, but there’s also figuring out what the pattern is, and knowing what depth to fish, and what they want. Whether it be top water, or a worm, or what have you. And so, putting all the pieces together is like a puzzle. And that, to me, is so intriguing and it is such a challenge.

De la Garza and her husband Hector, another professional bass angler, are taking part in this year’s Texas Parks and Wildlife Expo at the Fishing Fundamentals area.

And this is where we’re going to tell you how to do it, where to fish, what you need, and we’re also going to have some biologists in the area with us. And, I’m going to be demonstrating some techniques with the visitors, and we’ll be open for questions.

Learn about professional angling…or where to find the best fishing hole near you…when you come to Texas Parks and Wildlife Expo, October 4 and 5. The festival is free, and open from 9 to 5 both days.

That’s our show….with support from the Sport Fish Restoration program… funded by your purchase of fishing equipment and motor boat fuels For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.

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

The seed for her career as a professional bass angler took root when Diane de la Garza was a child.

When I was a little girl, my father and my mother took me fishing, and my parents always made the time to take us out and to introduce us to the outdoors. And for that, I will always be grateful.

De la Garza and her husband Hector, both professional bass anglers, are part of this year’s Texas Parks and Wildlife Expo October 4 & 5, in the Fishing Fundamentals area.

So, we’ll be sharing stories….sharing techniques…sharing ideas…answering questions….it’ll be a blast.

De la Garza says Expo is a tremendous opportunity to introduce children to the diverse outdoor recreational opportunities available to them, such as fishing.

It is so important for parents to take the time to take their kids out fishing. Honestly, it doesn’t matter if you catch any fish or not; what you’re doing is you’re creating memories. And, the lives that we have today—we get so busy. And I know for me, looking back, some of the best memories that I have of my family is when they took me out fishing and getting to experience the outdoors.

Professional bass anglers, Diane and Hector de la Garza, will be at Expo on October 4th & 5th, in the Fishing Fundamentals area. We have information at passporttotexas.org.

That’s our show….with support from the Sport Fish Restoration program… funded by your purchase of fishing equipment and motor boat fuels For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.

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Passport to Texas from Texas Parks and Wildlife

This month the Texas Parks and Wildlife television series follows a group of kids from Corpus Christi [insert audio from raft trip and play under script] as they take a raft trip down the Rio Grande for an outdoor classroom experience that ends up being about more than fun and games. Abe Moore went on the trip with them, and produced the story.

So, while the kids are going down the river, we kind of go off into little segways as to highlight what struggles are happening to the Rio Grande, and one in particular are the ranchers down there. They rely completely on the Rio Grande for its water, to water all their crops.

We quit growing cotton; we quit growing grain, corn during the summer just to try to save all that water for winter vegetables.

It was amazing just to see how much they learned about the different aspects of all the things that are tugging on the Rio Grande, from an invasive water-sucking tree that they learned about to the decline in fish species and kind of the many pressures the river deals with. So, they had quite the leaning experience for sure. There were times I was with them that I really felt that they’re getting it. They’re figuring out what it’s all about; what the world and what the river means to us.

For more information about the TV series, go to passporttotexas.org.

That’s our show… For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.

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

Come early and stay late is the advice Ernie Gammage has for folks who plan to attend this year’s Parks and Wildlife Expo—a free event that offers a natural introduction to the outdoors.

I think especially for folks that don’t have relatives who live in the country, who don’t have that rural connection that so many people had back in the old days…it’s important to introduce our children to the joys of being in nature and recreating in the outdoors. And you can do that at the Wildlife Expo.

Gammage, Expo Director, says the agency has an ulterior motive for providing this weekend event.

We hope that everybody that comes to Expo—whether they’re tried and true outdoor recreationists—or maybe it’s their first time to ever wet a hook, will use the Expo as an opportunity to gain an interest, gain a skill, and then go on and try it on their own.

Rock wall climbing, kayaking, scuba diving, fishing, shooting, and mountain biking are only a few of the activities in which visitors may partake at Expo.

You know, Expo is on 35 acres, it’s all outdoors because it’s about the outdoors, so wear sunscreen, wear comfortable shoes, wear a hat, and be prepared to have the time of your life.

Parks and Wildlife Expo is October 4th and 5th from 9 to 5 daily. Find information at passporttotexas.org

That’s our show… we receive support from the Sport Fish and Wildlife Restoration program… working to increase fishing, hunting, shooting and boating opportunities in Texas.

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

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