Passport to Texas

This is Passport to Texas

At more than 600 thousand square miles, the Gulf of Mexico is the world’s ninth largest body of water, yet its value is unsurpassed.

13—Oil and gas production in the Gulf of Mexico accounts for nearly half of our oil and gas that comes into the United States, and similarly for fisheries, the same thing. But also, it’s one of the most incredible, biodiverse and productive areas of the world.

Dr. Larry McKinney is Executive Director at the Hart Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies, at Corpus Christi, Texas A & M. You’ll meet him this month on the one-hour video documentary from TPW called The State of the Gulf-America’s Sea.

21—Well, I try to make the point in our documentary that the Gulf is a balance between economic needs and the environment, And we’re going to continue to need oil and gas in this country for many years to come—no matter how well we develop alternative energy sources (which we should). So, we’re going to have to find a way to balance the need to develop economically and to maintain the environment. And that’s the key to success in the Gulf of Mexico.

The documentary airs on most TX PBS stations February 24.

14—I hope that people will come to understand how important the Gulf of Mexico is to them, frankly no matter where they are. I mean, if you drive a car, use plastics, eat seafood, if you run water, if you fertilize your lawn, you have an impact on the Gulf of Mexico, and it has an impact on you.

Discover your connection with the Gulf this month on The State of the Gulf-America’s Sea. Check your local listings.

That’s our show…with support from the Sport Fish and Wildlife Restoration Program…supporting conservation in Texas…For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.

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This is Passport to Texas

Lone Star College-Kingwood in Houston is transforming 100 acres of its private wetlands into a public nature area.

08—It’s just a beautiful piece of habitat. It’s used by wading birds and waterfowl, amphibians and reptiles. They have beavers that live there.

Ron Jones is a biologist for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, which is helping fund the project. He says this kind of wetland habitat has become increasingly rare in the Houston area.

04—Most of the habitat around it has disappeared. It’s kind of an island.

Lone Star College sustainability coordinator David Burre (Bur-ee) says over the next year and a half, the college plans to enhance an existing trail and create three boardwalks as observation decks and outdoor classrooms. Volunteers will remove invasive plants like Chinese tallow and Japanese honeysuckle that are out-competing native species.

Yet, it’s not just about creating a place where people can enjoy nature today.

12—We’re looking at what it is we need to do now to ensure that the resources are available for future generations. I kind of like to say that sustainability is living in the now for tomorrow.

Through the project, Burre says, not only students, but the whole community will be able to learn the importance of conservation.

That’s our show… the Wildlife Restoration program supports our series, working to preserve habitat in Texas… For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.

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This is Passport to Texas

Budding artists take note: draw or paint any recognized state fish, include an essay on the species, and you might just win a great prize.

14—The Toyota Texas Bass Classic sponsors this, and they give us money for prizes; also for travel to the National Expo Awards Ceremony—which this year will be at the Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center.

Zoeann Stinchcomb, with the Texas Freshwater Fisheries center in Athens, says the competition is open to fourth through twelfth graders, and prizes range from $50 to $1,000! And all winners go on to the national competition.

14—This is one of my favorite times of the year, once we start getting the entries in, because I don’t think most people realize how many talented students we have as far as artwork goes—it’s amazing.

Students must also submit an essay about the fish they draw in order for judges to consider their entry.

16—The idea on that is they have to do a little bit of research about the fish that they’re going to be representing. And, they have to be able to tell us something about that fish, either the conservation status, the biology or ecology of that fish… And they can even put it in story form.

Deadline to submit an entry is March 31…the Expo and awards ceremony is June 25. Find contest details at www.statefishart.com.

That’s our show… with support from the Sport Fish Restoration program…providing funding for management of the Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center.

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

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This is Passport to Texas

One fish…two fish…red fish…blue fish is a children’s book by Dr. Seuss. It might also be what you’ll see during the State Fish Art contest—a nationwide art competition sponsored by Wildlife Forever…that has an ulterior motive.

05—The idea is to get the students involved in art and science and the out of doors.

Zoeann Stinchcomb, with the Texas Freshwater Fisheries center in Athens, says fourth through twelfth graders may compete by submitting a drawing or painting of a state fish.

11—Our state fish in Texas is the Guadalupe Bass. However, Texas students are not limited to drawing just the Guadalupe Bass. They can draw any recognized state fish from around the country.

Students from across the nation compete for prizes and a chance to have their artwork reprinted on a conservation stamp.

22—The competition in Texas is stiff; we have more entries generally every year than any other state, and sometimes more than all the other states combined.

For one thing, we promote it quite a lot, and also we give good prizes, and we have a big state, and you know, I just think that for some reason the people in Texas have realized the value of the contest.

Deadline to submit an entry is March 31. Find contest details at www.statefishart.com.

That’s our show… with support from the Sport Fish Restoration program…providing funding for management of the Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center.

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

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This is Passport to Texas

As we begin this New Year, consider how you think of and use water.

03—We need to be doing a whole lot more to conserve water.

Andrew Sansom, is a research professor of geography at Texas State University in San Marcos, and author of the field guide, Water in Texas.

15—Cities like San Antonio and El Paso, have reduced their water consumption per capita by as much as 40%, whereas, in other cities in Texas, water consumption is continuing to grow. And, in the years ahead, that won’t be economically acceptable.

Sansom says all water conservation begins at home.

17—We need to be conscious of water every time we turn on the tap, every time we brush our teeth, every time we decide to water our lawn or wash our cars. I know that sounds trite, but the fact is that it’s part of the consciousness that, I think, we need to evolve in order to address the problem.

As we develop our water consciousness, Sansom stresses to keep wildlife in mind.

21—One of the great struggles of the next 25 years is going to be to make sure that as we accommodate new growth in Texas: new industry, additional agriculture and all the rest. That we remember that there are fish and animals that depend on that water supply as well, and we cannot abandon them, because they are so much a part of our life and culture here in Texas.

The Sport Fish and Wildlife Restoration Program supports our series, and is funded by your purchase of fishing and hunting equipment and motorboat fuel.

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

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