TPWD highlites top ten conservation stories of 2007
Increased State Park Funding Brings Positive Changes

AUSTIN, Texas - State park visitors will notice better maintained park facilities, more interpretive programming, reopened campgrounds and trails, and better customer service thanks to lawmakers and voters who gave a strong thumbs-up to more funding for parks. The 80th Texas Legislature passed House Bills 1 and 12 that provide $25.6 million for park operations and the hiring of park staff during the 2008-09 biennium.

Game Wardens Fall in the Line of Duty

FREEPORT, Texas - The site formerly known as Peach Point Wildlife Management area was formally rededicated as the "Justin Hurst WMA" in recognition of the game warden and former wildlife biologist who was killed in the line of duty earlier this year. As Peach Point's area manager he was instrumental in the development of many waterfowl conservation projects on the site, including mottled duck research. Hurst started his career with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department as a biologist in August 1995 specializing in waterfowl management along the mid-coast.

On March 17, Hurst's 34th birthday, he was killed while attempting to apprehend a suspected poacher.

GLEN ROSE, Texas - Texas Game Warden Teyran "Ty" Patterson, 28, died in the line of duty May 30 during a searchand rescue operation on the Paluxy River. Patterson drowned after his boat capsized in floodwaters.

Patterson and his partner, Game Warden Danny Tuggle, were attempting to recover the body of a suspected drowning victim where the Paluxy River crosses FM 205 in Somervell County.

Carter Smith Named TPWD Executive Director

SAN ANTONIO, Texas - Carter Smith was named executive director of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department on Dec. 5 at a special meeting of the TPW Commission in San Antonio. Smith will be leaving the helm at

The Nature Conservancy of Texas to take the top job at TPWD. Smith has been with The Nature Conservancy of Texas since 1998 and has been the state director since 2004. Smith is a native of Central Texas and began his career in 1992 at the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department as a management intern, assisting in the Private Lands and Public Hunting programs.

Texas Clipper Sunk as Artificial Reef

AUSTIN, Texas - A ship with three lives - World War II troop transport, New York City luxury liner, and sea cadet training vessel - made her final journey this fall. On Nov. 17, the Texas Clipper was sunk in the Gulf of Mexico off South Padre Island to become an artificial reef. The 473-foot vessel was launched in 1944 as the USS Queens, a WWII transport and attack ship. After the war, she was recommissioned as the SS Excambion, carrying passengers in grand style between New York City and Mediterranean ports until 1958.

New Texas Regulations To Protect Wild Turtles, Nongame Wildlife

AUSTIN, Texas - The Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission on May 24 approved a measure that will prohibit commercial collection of all wild turtles from public waters and public land in the state, but will still allow collection of three varieties of turtles on private property, including ranch stock tanks and farm ponds. The new regulations are designed to help monitor and regulate the escalating commercial collection and sale of wild turtles, snakes, and other nongame animals (species not covered under hunting and fishing regulations) in Texas.

New Paddling Trails Open in Bastrop and Goliad

BASTROP, Texas - City and state officials came together Nov. 3 to officially launch the newest Texas Paddling Trail. El Camino Real Paddling Trail is a six-mile long route along the Colorado River that begins at Fisherman's Park in downtown Bastrop.

GOLIAD, Texas - Paddling and nature enthusiasts celebrated the official opening of the newest Texas Paddling Trail in historic Goliad April 25.

Boaters Reminded 'Nobody's Waterproof,' Safety Encouraged

AUSTIN, Texas - Texas had 47 boating fatalities in 2006, surpassing 40 for the first time since 2002, when the state led the nation with 61.

Most of those tragedies were preventable, since on average 85 percent of boating fatality drowning victims who drowned were not wearing a life jacket when recovered.

Million Dollar Bass Tourney Comes to Top Texas Lake

LINDALE, Texas - Lake Fork is undisputedly the top largemouth bass lake in Texas, maybe in the world. But until this year it has been notably absent from the national bass fishing tournament schedule due to stringent slot limits. April 13-15, the Toyota Texas Bass Classic brought to these waters 160 professional anglers and a $1 million purse.

The three-day event featured activities for the entire family and $250,000 in proceeds to benefit Texas Parks and Wildlife Department youth fishing and outreach programs.

Caprock Canyons State Park Unveils New Visitor Center

QUITAQUE, Texas - Caprock Canyons State Park celebrated its 25th anniversary and the grand opening of its new $1 million visitor center with a host of activities Oct. 19-20 at the park. The 4,400-square-foot Visitor Center is part of a major park project that also includes a new group meeting pavilion, adjacent bison viewing platform overlooking the Texas State Bison Herd pasture, wayside signage, a parking lot and 24- hour restrooms.

Cronkite Narrates "Texas The State Of Springs" Documentary

AUSTIN, Texas - In parts of Texas, springs have ceased flowing. Once-mighty water sources like Comanche Springs in Fort Stockton have run dry from over pumping. Aquifers are increasingly scrutinized by regulators and irrigators who nervously watch well pumps and water tables. Against this backdrop, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department aired its latest video documentary about water resources. "Texas the State of Springs" aired Feb. 15 on Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) stations statewide. The one-hour TV program is part of a broader TPWD public information initiative that began with a special water resource issue of Texas Parks & Wildlife magazine in July 2002 and continuing every July since. The initiative also includes radio, Internet and other components. Broadcast news legend Walter Cronkite will again lend his distinctive voice to this latest project, as he did for TPWD's last water resource TV documentary "Texas: the State of Water - Finding ABalance" in 2005.