Passport to Texas

This is Passport to Texas

You may be familiar with our state park system, but not as familiar with our system of wildlife management areas. Learn about them this month on the Texas Parks and Wildlife PBS show; here’s series producer, Don Cash.

We’ve got them all over the state and they serve a variety of purposes: research, education and hunting. And. We’re going to take a look at just what all goes on, on a WMA.

August…if you don’t know about our Wildlife Management Areas, watch the show, and we’ll let you know what the WMAs are all about.

Find a station near you when you log onto the Texas Parks and Wildlife website.

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

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This is Passport to Texas

[Nats aquarium] Pet stores like Rivers and Reefs in Austin sell fish and plant species from all over the world.

11—Most of your Tetris species are from South America. Even your average gold-fish comes from China. Some of your Amazon sword plants obviously come from South America from the Amazon River.

Manager Rachel Pohl says that’s why people should be careful not to dump their aquariums in rivers or lakes or even flush live fish down the toilet.

08—Some of these fish get into our rivers and start eating our fingerlings in our rivers, and it starts unbalancing the native population because they don’t have a predator here.

And it’s not just fish. TPWD aquatic habitat biologist Howard Elder says giant salvinia started out as a decorative plant for aquariums…but it didn’t stay there.

09—Giant salvinia was found in a Houston school yard in 1998. It has since been found in 17 public reservoirs.

And it’s not pretty anymore.

10—The plant can produce dense mats that actually block out sunlight and displace native vegetation and fish species as well as many wildlife species.

So do Texas a favor. Have fun with your aquariums. Just don’t dump them. Many pet stores will take back unwanted fish or at least tell you where you can take them.

That’s our show… we had research and writing help from Gretchen Mahan…the Sport Fish and Wildlife Restoration program supports our series… For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.

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This is Passport to Texas.

Each year, a species of invasive aquatic mussels called zebra mussels has crept further south toward Texas.

Parks and Wildlife Inland Fisheries Manager Brian Van Zee says last year they found zebra mussels for the first time in Lake Texoma on the Oklahoma-Texas border.

Since that time they’ve spread pretty much throughout the entire reservoir. You can find them attached to just about any rocks or hard structures in Lake Texoma now.

Zebra mussels filter small organisms and plankton out of the water for food. So when there are millions of zebra mussels, they can make the lake look pretty clear.

Most people would say that’s kind of neat, it’s a good thing. But actually it’s harmful because it’s filtering out the phytoplankton and zooplankton out of the water column. And that zooplankton the basis of the aquatic food chain.

That means fish may not have enough food to survive. And that’s not all.

Another thing that zebra mussels do by increasing the water clarity is that it allows other invasive species such as hydrilla or something like that to grow either quicker or at deeper water levels because now you can get more sunlight.

To prevent the further spread of zebra mussels, Van Zee encourages boaters to clean their boats thoroughly each time they take them out of the water.

You can find more information at passporttotexas.org.

That’s our show… we had research and writing help from Gretchen Mahan…the Sport Fish and Wildlife Restoration program supports our series… For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.

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This is Passport to Texas

San Antonio has long been viewed as the role model in water conservation. That’s primarily because it relies on the strictly regulated Edwards Aquifer.

Greg Flores is the vice president of public affairs for San Antonio Water Systems. He says because of San Antonio’s experience in water conservation, it can help other cities with their programs.

:12—There are a number of communities that will for the first time have to submit water conservation plans to the state of Texas. Well we’ve got a lot of experience doing that for many years, and we can help a lot of communities get their plans done and submitted to the state.

In 2008, San Antonio used one hundred thirty nine gallons of water per person per day.

Dallas used two hundred and seven gallons per person per day. But that’s down twenty percent from water use in 2000. And Yvonne Dupré, a Dallas water conservation program coordinator, says outdoor watering restrictions, conservation education and rebates for water efficient toilets are paying off.

:09—We have really seen a difference. Our population has continued to grow in this region, but our gallons per capita per day continues to decline.

But as cities grow and resources are limited, cities like Dallas and San Antonio are searching for other sources of water. Do what you can to conserve; we have tips at passporttotexas.org.

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

• Check your home for leaks: read your water meter before and after a two-hour period when no water is being used. If the meter does not read exactly the same, there is a leak. Repair all leaks a.s.a.p.!
• Avoid flushing the toilet unnecessarily by disposing of tissues and other waste into the trash can.
• Take shorter showers and consider buying an ultra-low-flow showerhead.
• Do not let water run while brushing your teeth or washing your face.
• Store drinking water in the refrigerator rather than letting the tap run every time you want a glass of water.
• Operate automatic dishwashers and clothes washers only when they are fully loaded.
• Consider installing an instant water heater on your kitchen sink so you don’t have to let the water run while it heats up.
• Recycle water from your fish tank by using it to water plants. Fish emulsion is a good, inexpensive fertilizer high in nitrogen and phosphorus.

Outside

• Use a broom rather than a hose to clean sidewalks and driveways.
• Place a layer of mulch around trees and plants to retain water.
• Use a moisture indicator to tell when your lawn needs watering and when it does not.
• Do not over-water your lawn. As a general rule, lawns only need watering every five to seven days in the summer and every ten to fourteen days in the winter. A hearty rain eliminates the need for watering for as long as two weeks.
• Water lawns during the early morning hours when temperatures and wind speeds are the lowest. This reduces losses from evaporation.
• Raise the lawn mower blade to at least three inches. A lawn cut higher encourages grass roots to grow deeper, shades the root system and holds soil moisture better than a closely-clipped lawn.
• Plant native and/or drought tolerant grasses, ground covers, shrubs and trees.
• Consider installing drip irrigation for individual bushes, trees, flowers, and garden areas.

* Special thanks to the American Water Works Association. Please visit their web site at www.awwa.org for additional information.

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This is Passport to Texas

Unstructured outdoor play used to be the norm—but not anymore. And that’s unfortunate, as time spent outdoors enriches children’s lives.

:18—It broadens their world; reduces the stress tremendously—it’s an amazing thing. Their attention is improved; they’re more creative in school. The kids who get outside and play, and especially play in nature are more resilient; they’re better problem solvers. They cooperate better with other kids.

Nancy Herron coordinates outdoor learning programs for Parks and Wildlife. Many parents feel the world has become a dangerous place, and no longer insist their kids spend time outdoors, because then they’ll be away from mom’s or dad’s watchful eyes. But getting the kiddos outside is something parents should reconsider.

:12—I think it’s going to be a conscious effort for parents to take their kids outside. It might be a trip to the park; it could be looking at how your community is built. Are there safe places to play where you can look out the window and see where they are?

Make getting outside a family activity; it’s is as easy as…

:09—Deciding that an hour a day or a half hour a day we’re just going to take as family time. And why can’t that family time be outside. And just make it a part of your schedule.

Find suggested outdoor activities for families at lifesbetteroutside.org.

That’s our show for today… remember: life’s better outside… For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.

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