Passport to Texas

Image courtesy TPWD

Boating: Safety, 2 Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

If you plan on operating a boat this summer—or any time—get to know items important to keep on board for safety while underway.

13—You should have a sound producing device, and you should have a life jacket for person that’s on board. If you’re boating at night, you should have the proper lights—that are working—and we suggest a first aid kit.

Tim Spice, manager of boater education for Parks and Wildlife, says anyone born on or after September 1, 1993 is required to take boater education.

21—We cover lots of different things, including safety aspects of boating; the different types of vessel you may have; the rules of the road; the required equipment. Again, everyone on board a vessel needs to have a lifejacket that’s accessible. We define what accessible means by law so that you don’t get in trouble when you’re on the water and a game warden stops to give you a boating safety check.

In addition, filing a float plan that tells folks on shore where you’ll be and when you plan to return will be vital if an emergency occurs while you’re on the water. Operating a boat has a different set of rules than driving a vehicle.

10—There’s no lines on the road; there’s no speed limits, per se. There are different signs and things you have to look out for that are very different than you would in your car.

By taking a boating safety course—which you can do online or in a classroom setting—you’ll learn what those rules.

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.

Boating with Safety in Mind

Boating: Safety, 1 Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Over the past couple of years, low lake levels from the drought kept many boats and other watercraft in dry dock, but thanks to spring rains…

02—We have a lot more water now, so the lakes have changed.

That’s good news as we approach Memorial Day weekend —the unofficial start of summer boating season.

More water means easier, safer navigation of lakes, says Tim Spice, manager of boater education for Parks and Wildlife. Being savvy about safety also keeps everyone protected when on the water.

31—We can identify two major factors that you as a boater can affect in how you operate a vessel, and the things that you do in and around the water. One is wear a lifejacket. Eighty percent of those people that die from falling in the water would be alive if they had a life jacket on. And then the second thin you can do is to not drink alcohol. Alcohol affects your judgment, and you can lose your driver’s license—your vehicle driver’s license—the court can take that away from you if you are found guilty of boating while intoxicated.

On tomorrow’s show the rules of the road as they pertain to boating, and what items you need to have on board before setting sail.

07—The rules on the road are all designed based on the type of vessel and the maneuverability of the vessel.

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

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

Bluebird Nest Box

Bluebird Boxes Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Not all birds nest in trees.

[sfx….bluebird song]

In fact, bluebirds are actually a cavity dwelling species in need of holes to build their homes. Habitat loss has diminished their housing opportunities, but bluebird enthusiasts are rolling out the welcome mat with man-made nest boxes.

15— In Texas we make it with a large overhanging roof, to protect from the sun. The dimensions are a little larger, that’s because our birds need more air because it’s so hot. Our birds need to be protected from the heat.

Pauline Tom is with the Texas Bluebird Society. The hole of bluebird nest box is about one and a half inches…perfect for a bluebird, not so great for a European Starling.

17—These birds came over from England in the mid 1800’s. It was like bringing fire ants in, a terrible, terrible pest. And so they’ll take the cavities that our native birds need, and they’ll
actually destroy the eggs and the nestling.

For information on how to build you own nest box, log on to the Texas Parks and Wildlife web site. If you do take on the responsibility of a blue bird nest box…

09—You would clean out the nest box when the birds fledge. The nest box is used over and over.

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

Paddling Caddo Lake, image by Chase Fountain TPWD

Boating: Caddo Lake Padduing Trails Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

World Wetlands day was February 2, and to celebrate, the Texas Paddling trails Team at TPW launched 10 new paddling trails in the Caddo Lake area in Deep East Texas.

08—Five at Caddo lake State Park and the Wildlife Management Area, and five at Backwater Jack’s RV Park up river on the Big Cypress Bayou.

Shelly Plante oversees nature tourism for the agency. She says the new paddling trails offer an air of intrigue.

16—Caddo Lake is just one of the most mysterious places in the State of Texas. The swampy bayous with the big cypress trees and Spanish moss…it’s just one of those captivating images… when you think of East Texas you envision.

The trails at Caddo Lake will be tricky, but paddlers of all skill levels will get plenty of guidance along the way.

23—It’s a little intimidating as a paddler to think that you’re going to go out in these swamps and know your way around. These paddling trails are wonderful in that they help guide that experience. There are now arrow markers with reflective arrows marking your way for 10 different trails, to take you on a trip from two and a half miles to almost nine mile trips throughout these swamps. Hopefully it will make it easier for the newcomer.

Find more information about Texas Paddling Trails on the Texas Parks and Wildlife website.

The Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration program supports our series. For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.

Invasives: Zebra Mussels--One Solution Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Zebra mussels, originally native to SE Russia, were first detected in the Great Lakes in 1988. It’s thought they arrived in the ballast water of ocean going ships that crossed the St. Lawrence Seaway. In 2009, they showed up in Lake Texoma.

17—They’re just getting to Texas now, but they’ve caused millions and millions and millions of dollars of damage to water industries, the ability to move water from rivers to reservoirs, or from reservoirs through municipal water supplies. They’ve created just a lot of problems throughout the country.

Dave Terre, Chief of research and management at Texas Parks and Wildlife, says zebra mussels are an ecological and economic threat. They clog municipal water lines and harm aquatic life.

17— The water in lake Texoma contains a form of the zebra mussel called veligers—they’re actually small larvae that you cannot see. So, the only way to keep the larvae from moving to other water bodies across the state (through the contamination by boats) is by draining the water out of your boat.

Draining and drying your boats before leaving Lake Texoma isn’t just a good idea—it’s the law.

10— What’s required is that people pull the plugs in their boats, drain all the water out, and make sure any device in the boat that contains water is drained before leaving Lake Texoma.

Find additional details on the TPW website.

The Wildlife and Sportfish Restoration program supports our series and funds conservation projects in Texas.

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