Passport to Texas

Invasives: Zebra Mussels--the Problem Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Unlike invasive feral hogs and tiger shrimp, the half-inch zebra mussel is too small to eat, and not very tasty if you do. Too bad; if they had food value, you could get your fill at Lake Texoma in North Texas.

10—Zebra mussels are an invasive species that got into Lake Texoma—probably by boat—back in April 2009. Since then, the population’s expanded greatly.

Chief of research and management at Texas Parks and Wildlife, Dave Terre, says the small, rapidly reproducing shellfish can wreak havoc in a water body.

14— These zebra mussels colonize boats, which can actually damage your boat. They can load up on beaches and cause problems wading while swimming. They clog pipes. They do all sorts of damage to our natural resources as well.

It’s not uncommon to find multiple zebra mussels attached to native mussels, eventually killing them. Unless Lake Texoma boaters take precautions, they can unwittingly transport zebra mussel adults, or their microscopic larvae, to uninfected waters.

18— We want to encourage people to get outdoors, and go fishing and go boating. But at Lake Texoma, boaters need to be aware that it’s important for them to clean, drain and dry their boat before they go to another water body to prevent the spread of zebra mussels across the state.

We’ll learn more about this invasive species tomorrow.

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

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

Boat/Fish: National Fishing and Boating Week Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Time on the water is time well spent. It’s not only an ideal way to connect with friends and family, it’s also a way to protect Texas waters.

First lines of defense for America’s waterways are the anglers and boaters that are out there. And it’s important that we maintain that strong commitment to taking care of the resource by being sure there are a lot of folks out there that enjoy using it.

Texas is one of the top states in terms of angler participation and the number of licenses sold. There are some tremendous fishing resources in Texas in both saltwater and freshwater.

Our state provides a great example for many other states as the right way to manage resources as well as how to be in touch with the anglers and boaters that are out there using it.

National Fishing and Boating Week, June 2nd through 10th.

It’s a time to celebrate being on the water …a time to unplug from the workaday world…where there’s nothing that gets in the way of communicating with your family and friends. It’s simply a great way to reconnect with those who matter to you, while engaging a resource that’s precious to everyone.

That’s our show, made possible by the Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program…working to increase fishing, hunting, shooting and boating opportunities in Texas.

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

Boat Ramps Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Safely getting your boat into the water is just as important as navigating it once on the water. The Sport Fish Restoration Act levies federal taxes on fishing equipment, which in turn is used, in part, to provide boaters easier access to Texas waters.

As a person shops for boating equipment, the agency is reinvesting that tax investment that the consumer made back into facilities that they can use to enjoy recreational boating.

SF restoration funds totaling in the millions of dollars, have helped build and maintain public launching ramps throughout the state.

The way that’s accomplished is Texas Parks and Wildlife has a program that provides local assistance to local governments for the construction of new ramps. This program provides a 75% matching assistance to local governments for the construction of public boat ramps.

Sponsors must provide the land, legal access, a 25% match share, and accept operation and maintenance responsibility for at least 25 years.

And for the investment—everyone has better, safer access and more fun on Texas waters.

That’s our show for today: Made possible by the Wildlife and Sport fish Restoration program in Texas. It’s funded by your purchase of fishing and hunting equipment and motorboat fuels.

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

Staying Safe on the Water 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 life jacket 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.

Know Boating Rules Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Last year, low lake levels from the drought kept boats and other watercraft in dry dock most of the summer… 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 life jacket. 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.