Passport to Texas

This is Passport to Texas

Once the weather warms, you’ll want to get on the water and the Texas Parks and Wildlife’s PBS series can help. Producer, Abe Moore.

55—One of the stories I’m working on for the television show is the Texas Parks and Wildlife Paddling Trails Program. One of the places I went that’s really popular is the Lighthouse Lakes Paddling Trail down along the coast at Aransas Pass.

The paddling trails are all publicly accessible. There are put ins and take outs. The best part is, you get folks out on the water, and you’re not worried about trespassing, or having any property issues.

Thanks, Abe.

The story airs the week of March 27. Go to lifesbetteroutside.org/paddling for more information.

That’s our show… with support from the Sport Fish and Wildlife Restoration Program…providing funding for boat ramps in Texas.

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

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This is Passport to Texas

Kayaking and canoeing allow us to see nature from a new perspective. Some of these scenic waterways are official state paddling trails.

:11—The reason a Parks and Wildlife paddling trail is so special is because, we’re very interested in conservation issues, water issues, the importance of water for the state of Texas, and educating the public on all of these issues.

Shelley Plante is nature tourism coordinator for Texas Parks and Wildlife. If your community has a stretch of river or coastline you think is trail-worthy, submit a nomination.

:23—On our website, we have application forms that any community partner can fill out if they think they have a trail that has potential to be in our paddling trails program. The main requirement is that it’s a four to twelve mile river segment. We really want this to be a morning or afternoon river run that people can do with their family and friends, and not multi-day. If they have any questions, they can call the number on the website, or email, and we’ll review their application.

Applicants will receive a response in about a month – and if accepted — that’s when the work really starts.

:14—The process for us to be able to get a river survey done, work with the community to develop text for the website and the kiosks, get kiosks installed, create panels for the kiosks….the entire process to become a paddling trail could take between six to twelve months.

Find a link to the application on the Texas Parks and Wildlife website.

That’s our show for today…supported by the Sport Fish Restoration program… providing funding for wetland conservation through the Private Lands Enhancement Program.

For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti

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This is Passport to Texas

What could be more relaxing than kayaking along an inland or coastal paddling trail, taking in the beauty of nature?

:03—Water trails are one of the last public resources in the state.

Shelly Plante is nature tourism coordinator for Texas Parks and Wildlife.

:16—In a state that’s about ninety-six percent privately owned, waterways are public passage. So the public has access to these waterways, and we just want to let people know they can go, and easily access the sites with community help, and paddle and see nature from a different perspective – down low on the water.

A community must nominate a stretch of river, or coastline, and then a thorough evaluation must take place before acceptance into the paddling trail program.

:18—Currently most of our trails are from Central Texas down to the coast. And so we are lacking paddling trails that have been nominated for east Texas, the DFW area, the Panhandle, West Texas…if we get too many for us to be able to do in a year, geographic diversity is going to play a role in which ones get accepted annually.

Details about how to nominate your stretch of river or coastline for the paddling trail program can be found at the Texas Parks and Wildlife website.

That’s our show for today…supported by the Sport Fish Restoration program… providing funding for wetland conservation through the Private Lands Enhancement Program.

For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti

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This is Passport to Texas

There’s something special about experiencing Texas from a kayak or canoe; Texas has coastal and inland paddling trails to accommodate all levels of watery wanderlust.

:07—The Texas paddling trails program began informally about a decade ago when Texas Parks and Wildlife set up some coastal paddling trails.

Shelly Plante is nature tourism coordinator for Texas Parks and Wildlife. That first trail was just the beginning.

:08—From that project, we now have seven coastal paddling trails in our paddling trail program. And, in March of 2006, we launched our first inland paddling trail in Luling.

Other inland paddling trails are set to open throughout the year. Active community partners, and a thorough evaluation, are required of all would be trails – inland or coastal.

25—There are a few steps that need to happen for a paddling trail to become one of ours. And that includes a river survey to look at the water quality. Look at the wildlife, ecology, fishing opportunities that can happen along that river or bay. And then, again, meeting with the community, having a community partner that’s actively involved and interested in having paddlers come to their site. And then, developing kiosk materials, because we will have educational kiosks at every access point.

That’s our show for today…supported by the Sport Fish Restoration program… providing funding for wetland conservation through the Private Lands Enhancement Program.

For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti

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This is a Passport to Texas State Park Getaway

With summer on the way, lots of us are thinking about ways to get out on the water. Bryan Frazier, our State Park guide, says parks offer plenty of opportunities for water-borne fun and learning.

One of the great things about being in Texas is the warm weather that we have, and then the water recreations that goes along with it. It’s just something that people look forward to every year—as being able to get out onto the water.

So, it’s something that families can do, or groups can do…and it’s something that we’re proud to do… and a great experience for folks to get out on the water this summer.

Thanks, Bryan!

Find more state park information at the Texas Parks and Wildlife website.

That’s our show … with support form the SFWR program…For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.

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