What is the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department?

Background

Regan Templeton of KUT News researched and reported this article.

The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s (TPWD) mission is to manage and conserve the natural and cultural resources of Texas. TPWD seeks to provide hunting, fishing, and outdoor recreation opportunities for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.

TPWD regulates and provides licenses for fishing, hunting, and boating. The department has authority to manage fish and wildlife resources under the Wildlife Conservation Act of 1983. The department also manages state parks.

TPWD is headquartered in Austin. Carter Smith has been the executive director of TPWD since 2008.

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September 3, 2012

Wildfires Underscore the Need for Seed

How Texas almost lost the seeds that will be used to reforest the lost pines in Bastrop.

August 31, 2012

How Wildfires Can Reveal Secrets of the Land

When the Rock House Fire struck Far West Texas in 2011, it didn’t just leave over 300,000 acres of scorched earth in its wake. It also left bones.

August 17, 2012

Red Tide Has Likely Killed a Million Fish in Galveston

A red tide in the Gulf has killed nearly a million fish on the beaches of Galveston, according to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. The fish — most of them Gulf menhaden, but some species of catfish as well — are washing up on the Galveston and Surfside beaches, as well as the Bolivar […]

August 15, 2012

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Thousands of dead fish are washing up on the beaches of the Upper Texas coast, as the first red tide of the season strikes the Gulf. So this means parts of Galveston Bay are closed off for shellfish harvesting, including Texas Gulf oysters. A red tide is also known as an algal bloom, and gets its […]

July 27, 2012

How Texas Parks and Wildlife Is Trying to Sell Out

Last year’s devastating drought and wildfires led to fewer visitors and less revenue at state parks. In December the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department turned to the public for help, hoping to raise more than $4 million in donations. But since then, they’ve only received half that amount, and recent budget cuts have taken away over a hundred million […]

June 6, 2012

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May 29, 2012

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May 10, 2012

Is It Legal to Kill Bigfoot in Texas?

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May 8, 2012

What We Learned About Invasive Species While Drinking Beer

Monday night StateImpact Texas hosted an event called Invasive Species and Why We Love Them With Salt, part of KUT Austin’s regular Views and Brews: Conversations at the Cactus Cafe series. We took a look at the issues of invasive species in Texas (over beer) and examined some of the solutions on the table. And […]

May 3, 2012

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StateImpact Texas will be invading a special session of KUT Radio Austin’s Views and Brews this Monday at the Cactus Cafe. It’s a regular panel hosted by KUT where we discuss the issues and art of our time, over beer (hence the “Brews” with the “Views”). Our very own Mose Buchele will lead a discussion […]