Passport to Texas

This is Passport to Texas

09—This is like the inside scoop that you can get. And it’s really great for us because it’s incredibly cost effective; we don’t have to spend a lot of dollars, and yet we’re able to reach thousands of people.

That’s Darcy Bontempo, Marketing Director at Texas Parks and Wildlife. She’s referring to the agency’s free email newsletters that highlight a diverse array of outdoor activities throughout the state.

17—These are wonderful multimedia e-newsletters. If you’re someone who loves state parks, you can sign up for our State Parks Getaways. We’ve also got a Fish Texas newsletter, we’ve got a Hunt Texas, and we also have something that appeals to someone who loves all kinds of outdoor activities as well as conservation, and that’s called our Life’s better Outside e-newsletter.

It’s easy to sign up to receive the free e-newsletters just go to the Texas Parks and Wildlife homepage, and click the icon that says “sign up for email updates.” When you do, the great Texas outdoors comes to you.

23—For example in March we’ll be having a newsletter that will cover everything from Bighorn Sheep release in Big Bend; you’ll get to see the video of that, which is just really exciting. You’ll also see a story about the wildlife trails that were just completed. Perfect time of the year, spring migration, go out with your family or your friends and see wildlife. And also, you’ll get to see a teaser on The State of the Gulf, which is a wonderful TV documentary we just completed airing on PBS.

Texas delivered to your inbox—it doesn’t get much better than that.

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

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This is Passport to Texas

Dr. Larry McKinney isn’t shy about sharing his affection for the Gulf of Mexico.

19—It is one of the most beautiful places in the world…when you get out into the gulf, be it in the Laguna Madre, or the coral reefs of the Flower Gardens, or the Florida Keys, or the area off the Mississippi River where you see huge pods of whale—we even have giant squid. It’s an incredibly beautiful place, biodiverse and productive. It’s a hidden treasure, and it’s well worth our protecting.

McKinney is the Executive Director of the Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies, at Corpus Christi, Texas A & M, and appears in this month’s hour-long TPW PBS documentary The State of the Gulf-America’s Sea.

14—I think this upcoming documentary on the Gulf, will give individuals a framework to learn about the Gulf, and will hopefully pique their interest to go and learn more. But it’s a wonderful coverage of all the aspects of the Gulf of Mexico that makes it important to all of us.

These aspects include environmental, economic and recreational value. To fully understand and appreciate the resource, you have to engage the Gulf.

14—Go fishing, boating, swimming. Go to the beaches, go to our parks that surround the gulf—certainly there are some wonderful ones here in Texas. Get out into that environment, and you’ll see why it’s worth protecting, and I think you’ll take the actions that are necessary to make sure we have it, not only for us, but for our kids.

The State of the Gulf-America’s Sea airs on most Texas PBS stations February 24, Check your local listings.

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

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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

If you’ve decided that winter is best spent indoors, then you can use this time to prepare for the outdoor season ahead, as our State Park Guide, Bryan Frazier, explains.

55—For a lot of the state the wintertime is fairly short, but it is a time where a lot of people consider it in-between seasons: hunting season has just ended; fishing season is around the corner…some people don’t really like to camp right now. So take this opportunity to really look at your gear: your tent, your boat, your fishing line. Clean your gun. Sight your bow. All those things where you are ready to go once the weather does turn—which is going to just be in a manner of weeks literally here in Texas before we’re into spring break trips and all of those fun activities that we like to do that are outdoor related. Don’t overlook this time to prepare and do some maintenance on your gear; it can save you some headaches, and it’s a safety issue. It’s something you really need to do during this down time or off season. Take advantage of that and it will get you motivated and that much more ready to get outdoors when the time does come.

That’s our show for today…with funding provided by Chevrolet…building dependable, reliable trucks for more than 90 years.

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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