Life's Better Outside - September 2014

Largest conservation land purchase in Texas history, bringing back horned lizards, and more TPWD news
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In This Issue:

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LAND AND WATER

Powderhorn Ranch Purchased By Partnership

coastal marshes of Powderhorn Ranch It's the largest dollar amount ever raised for a conservation land purchase in Texas history. 

Powderhorn Ranch is one of the biggest remaining unspoiled tracts of coastal prairie in the state and it will be protected forever, thanks to a coalition of partners which raised nearly 38 million dollars to purchase the more than 17,000 acre ranch in Calhoun County. The property will in years to come become a new state park and wildlife management area for the people of Texas. Enjoy a video peek at this pristine property. 

The Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation is spearheading the fundraising for the $50 million project, which includes the property purchase, habitat restoration and management, and a long-term endowment. The Conservation Fund, The Nature Conservancy and Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) are also playing critical roles in the acquisition and long-term conservation of this property.

A significant portion of the funding came from dollars paid by BP and Transocean in the wake of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill through the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation’s (NFWF) Gulf Environmental Benefit Fund. NFWF has committed $34.5 million over the next three years, making this the biggest land acquisition in the nation so far using BP spill restoration dollars.

The project represents a new model of conservation, involving multiple organizations with shared interests. Safeguarding this natural treasure has been contemplated for more than 30 years. Read more about the purchase.

The acquisition will protect unspoiled coastal land with forests of coastal live oak and intact wetlands, including thousands of acres of freshwater wetlands and salt marshes that offer vital fish and wildlife habitat that provide natural filtering to improve water quality and shield people and property from storm surges and sea level rise.

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STATE PARKS

Dark Skies Program Leading Statewide Trend

starry sky, hoodoos in front Many kids today have never seen a starry sky, and many adults haven’t seen one in a very long time. The reason is simple: light pollution (artificial light that is too bright, is misdirected, or is shining where it's not wanted). 

The newly-launched Dark Skies Program at Texas State Parks aims to grow public awareness and desire to reduce light pollution. Copper Breaks State Park in the Panhandle Plains and Enchanted Rock State Natural Area in the Hill Country are the first Texas state parks to be officially designated as International Dark Sky Parks by the International Dark-Sky Association.

Dark skies are important for health, wildlife and quality of human life and experience. How does your night sky at home compare to these examples? The Bortle Scale (lower numbers indicate darker skies) rates how well you can see celestial objects in a certain place, taking into account light pollution and sky glow. For example, Big Bend Ranch State Park has a Bortle Scale rating of 1, while Cedar Hill State Park, near Dallas, has a Bortle rating of 8. Visit our Bortle Scale Ratings page to learn more and to find dark sky ratings for parks near you.

With darker skies, stargazing gets even better. Find fall stargazing opportunities in state parks.

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WILDLIFE

What’s New with the Horned Lizard?

horned lizard up close The Texas horned lizard (aka horned toad) is fondly remembered by Texans who, as kids, carted them home in shoe boxes, kept them for pets and were sometimes traumatized by a defensive squirt of blood from the critters’ eyes.

So how is the state reptile doing? The short answer: not so good. These days it’s much harder to find. Watch the video "Horned Lizards on the Move" to see how biologists are documenting the reasons for the species' decline and researching successful ways to reintroduce this legendary Texas icon.

You can show your support for the horned lizard by sporting a horned lizard conservation license plate. Your license plate purchase helps support horned lizard research activities like those shown in this Passport To Texas video “Money for Texas Horned Lizard.”

Each set of horned lizard license plates costs just $30 and $22 goes directly to help fund conservation efforts for horned lizards and other native wildlife species right here in Texas.

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WILDLIFE

Vote on New Wildlife Conservation License Plate

6 conservation license plate choices

Help choose the design for a new conservation license plate that will support wildlife in Texas. The new plate will be released in spring 2015.

The choices are:

  • Mountain lion
  • Hummingbird
  • Western diamondback rattlesnake
  • Monarch butterfly 
  • Cyrano dragonfly
  • Prickly pear cactus bloom with bumblebee

Take a closer look at the six options and vote for your favorite online.

Don’t keep it a secret – make sure your family and friends cast a ballot too! We are eager to know what everyone thinks.

Where does the money go when you buy a wildlife conservation plate? “It goes to cutting edge research and to local communities facing wildlife challenges in the form of grants," explains Richard Heilbrun, Conservation Outreach Program Leader. "Last year, we funded a project in the Valley to build wildlife viewing blinds for low income students at a summer camp. They otherwise wouldn’t have access to learning about nature. We also funded a project that will help protect Bracken Cave from development, which is the largest concentration of bats anywhere in the world. And it’s right here in Texas!”

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STATE PARKS

Planning Your Fall Destination

girl, cloudy panorama, Davis Mountains Plan your fall trips with the 2014-2015 State Park GuideThe Guide describes more than 90 state parks and state natural areas and provides details on each park’s accommodations plus available activities such as swimming, fishing, hiking, biking, and horseback riding. Pick it up at any state park, view the digital version or download the PDF. 

And remember to always check out the Events Calendar for fun seasonal events happening during your stay. Here are some upcoming events for the fall:

  • Camping Workshops – Sign up for a Texas Outdoor Family camping workshop or test your wilderness skills during a backpacking adventure.
  • Texas State Bison Music Festival – Head north where the bison roam for this all-day Americana and country music event at Caprock Canyons State Park on October 4. The festival raises funds to help restore the Texas State Bison Herd to their historic range.
  • Meridian Turns 80 – Enjoy hay rides, kayaking, live music and a star party during Meridian State Park’s 80th anniversary on October 4.
  • Halloween Festivities – Celebrate this spooky holiday with ghost stories around the campfire, pumpkin carving contests and trick-or-treating near the end of October.

Image: "Spaceout" by tojoiii - Entry in "Picture Yourself at a Texas State Park 2014 Photo Contest"

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LAND AND WATER

Lone Star Land Stewards: Models for Conservation

east Texas pine forest With 95% of Texas lands in private hands, landowners play a critical role in habitat and wildlife conservation. To see what some landowners are achieving, watch these video stories about 3 of the 6 winners of the 2014 Regional Lone Star Land Steward Awards:

Learn more about the Lone Star Land Steward Awards Program which honors ranchers, corporations and individuals for their work. Nominations for the 2015 awards are being accepted through November 30.

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LAW ENFORCEMENT

Game Wardens Recognized for Excellence

game warden standing on truck, viewing panorama Three Texas Game Wardens have been recognized for their leadership and dedication to wildlife conservation and human safety.

Keep up with the Texas Game Wardens with Game Warden Field Notes and on Facebook and Twitter.

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HUNTING

New Texas Hunting, Fishing Season Underway

angler fishing in tournament on lake Folks come from all over for Texas hunting and fishing. This year will be no exception. 

Licenses went on sale August 15 and Dove Season kicked off in most of the state September 1, marking the kickoff of the Texas hunting seasons. Catch the closely anticipated news on doves in this dove forecast video. Forecasts for deer, other major species, and other hunting news can be found in the free digital extra, Texas Hunting 2014, from Texas Parks & Wildlife magazine.

This year, for the first time, the Outdoor Annual of hunting and fishing regulations is available as a free mobile app for iOS(Apple) and Android devices which allows you to check hunting and fishing regulations from any location. You can download the free app, pick up a hard copy at any license retailer, or download the PDF. 
The regulations are also available online. Download the PDF.

Did you know? Outdoor tourism is big news in Texas, annually contributing around $36 billion to state and local economies and to wildlife habitat. Sporting television shows lead the tourism parade to Texas as illustrated in this video. That's something all Texans can appreciate whether or not they're hunting or fishing!

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BOATING

A Tough Message on Water Safety

teen girl speaking on camera In the blink of an eye, a boating accident can transform a carefree excursion into a family tragedy. Teens are especially vulnerable to accidents on the water, as most think tragedy “will never happen to us.”

With input from a network of water safety partners, two powerful new videos deliver a tough message about water safety: 

For his work in helping to reach teens with effective safe boating messages, Tim Spice, TPWD Boater Education Coordinator, was named State Boating Educator of the Year as well as the “Southern States’ Educator of the Year.

Spice led the project mandated by the 2011 Texas Legislature. As part of the mandate, the video will become part of the Texas Driver’s Education curriculum to be seen by all who take the course.

Visit our Water Safety pages to find more information on boating safety, boater education, choosing the right life jacket and more. 

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