Passport to Texas

Passport to Texas from Texas Parks and Wildlife and the Sport Fish and Wildlife Restoration Program

The Texas coast draws anglers from near and far. And Texas Parks and Wildlife Television series producer, Don Cash, says a segment this month addresses an issue caused by its popularity.

One of the problems with so many people going to the coast to fish is protecting the fragile seagrasses on the coast. The seagrasses are a very important nursery area for all the kind of things we like to eat and like to catch, and are necessary down on the coast. And over the years, more people have gone fishing in these shallow areas along the coast…they’ve taken their boats and have really done quite a bit of damage to the sea grasses.

Run deep. Fish shallow. That’s the way the people fished here fifty years ago. They would run in the deep sloughs and get out and wade the shallow flats. And everybody respected the shallow flats until flats boats came in…

Not only do we address the importance of the seagrasses, and the importance of the entire coastal ecosystem, there is some explanation on how to operate your boat properly in this water. And, one of the interviews is with a boat dealer, who talks about, “Well, everybody goes and buys the boat without really learning how to operate the boat in the most responsible manner.”

Check local listings to see when the show airs in your town.

That’s our show…supported by the Sport Fish and Wildlife restoration Program… funded by your purchase of fishing and hunting equipment and motor boat fuels.

For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti

Texas Parks and Wildlife Television Series Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Passport to Texas from Texas Parks and Wildlife and the Sport Fish and Wildlife Restoration Program

It’s time to enjoy our state parks; and Texas Parks and Wildlife TV series producer, Don Cash, says the show delivers an eyeful of parks all month long.

And a couple of them come to mind. Martin Dies, Junior SP in Jasper, which suffered quite a bit of hurricane damage from hurricane Rita, and was closed for awhile, has reopened part of their camping area, and they are again doing the float trip down the Angelina River.

The Angelina River down here is really…it’s very clean. The water’s pretty clear. It’s really nice. Makes the trip real enjoyable.

One of the other parks is Goose Island SP, which is on the coast across the Copano Bay across from Rockport and Fulton. Fishing is the big thing at Goose Island.

Ever since I been a little kid been coming out here. It’s relaxing. One of these days we might get lucky and catch a fish.

You can fish out of a boat. You can wade fish. You can take your kayak into the shallows. And they’ve got a sixteen hundred foot fishing pier at Goose Island SP that people are fishing on all day and all night.

Check local listings to see when the show airs in your town.

That’s our show…supported by the Sport Fish and Wildlife restoration Program… funded by your purchase of fishing and hunting equipment and motor boat fuels.

For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti

Texas Parks and Wildlife Television Series Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

The year 2006 marked a major milestone in the recovery of the endangered Kemp’s Ridley sea turtle. Mexican and U.S. scientists staged the largest single-day turtle release since the bi-national recovery project began three decades ago, helping two hundred forty thousand (240,000) turtle hatchlings wriggle across the sand and into the Gulf of Mexico. Even though sea turtle nestings on Texas and Mexico beaches soared to record highs in 2006, biologists are tempering jubilation with caution, saying current levels of funding and work must continue for the world’s most endangered sea turtle to fully recover. Tom Harvey has this report.

Read about Ridley Recovery

Ridley Recovery Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Passport to Texas from Texas Parks and Wildlife

Some museums take hours to explore. But imagine touring a small home filled with pieces from various families’ priceless collections. That’s how the Daughters of the Republic of Texas museum in Austin got its start.

Nelma Wilkinson, President General of the organization, explains the role Texas women had, and still have, in preserving Texas’ rich past.

They organized a museum over 100 years ago. Women in Austin, Texas, who were members of the William Barrett Travis chapter, which was the third chapter formed in Texas, those women had artifacts they had collected from their families, who had been involved in the Texas Revolution.

So the museum began in their homes, and eventually the legislators let them have a little corner over at the Capitol. They put their prized possessions over there to share with other people. Well, it wasn’t long before they outgrew that corner, so the legislators gave them space at the old land office building, and they had the second floor as their museum.

Now, it has been moved to our headquarters and we have a fantastic museum. I guess we’re the best kept secret in Austin. So few people know that we have this terrific museum there, but it’s just a treasure chest.

Learn more about the museum: http://www.drt-inc.org/museum.htm .

That’s our show for today…with research and writing help from Loren Seeger…For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti

Standard Podcast Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Passport to Texas from Texas Parks and Wildlife

March second marks 171 years of Texas Independence. To celebrate… the birthplace of Texas — Washington-on-the-Brazos state historic site – has festivities planned for the entire family this weekend.

We transform the park back into the early 1800s. We have costumed performers and interpreters walking around. Folks actually feel as though they’re back in the 1800s.

Beth Taylor, Executive Director of Washington-on-the-Brazos State Park Association, describes the site.

It is a 293 acre site, which encompasses Independence Hall, which is a replica of the original building, which was destroyed by fire. We also have The Star of the Republic Museum. This is the only museum dedicated to the Republic period of Texas.

Students who visit will discover a very familiar painting in the Star of the Republic Museum.

This appears in 95% of the textbooks that 4th and 7th grader read. It is the signing of the Texas Declaration. It’s really neat to hear these kids say “Hey Mom, that’s in my textbook!” And they get to see how big and how beautiful and bold that painting really is.

The Texas Independence Celebration is March 3rd and 4th from 10 until 5 at Washington-on-the-Brazos State Historic Site in Washington, Texas. Entrance fees for the weekend will be waived.

That’s our show for today…with research and writing help from Loren Seeger. For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti

Standard Podcast Play Now | Play in Popup | Download