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View this message on our website.
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Thanks to Texas voters and park supporters,
Proposition 5 was approved with a resounding YES vote on Nov. 5!
We want to thank each and every voter who cast a
ballot to support state and local parks and historic sites. A big shout-out to
State Senator Lois Kolkhorst and State Representative John Cyrier for
championing the bill in the Legislature that put the measure on the ballot.
The passage of Prop. 5 dedicates all revenue
from the Sporting Goods Sales Tax, so going forward, those dollars will only be
earmarked for the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and the Texas Historical
Commission to be spent on public parks and historic sites.
Thanks to Texas voters, millions of dollars will
now be available each year for park funding, with no additional taxes or fees.
Way to go, Texas!
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There’s more good news for park lovers in Texas:
TPWF is kicking off a $9 million fundraising effort to amplify $12.5 million in
state funds to open a new state park in North Texas. Palo Pinto Mountains State
Park will come to life thanks to a partnership between public funding and a
dedicated private fundraising campaign.
“Texas Parks and Wildlife Department has
partnered with TPWF on several transformational projects in the past, including
Powderhorn Ranch and Canoncita at Palo Duro Canyon,” said Texas Parks and
Wildlife Commission Chairman Reed Morian. “We’re confident that this
partnership will not only garner the necessary funds to make this new park a
reality but will also maximize all available resources.”
Palo Pinto Mountains State Park is located on
4,421 acres of scenic, undeveloped land approximately 75 miles west of Fort
Worth and 75 miles east of Abilene. Several 1,400-foot peaks, the 90-acre
Tucker Lake, and two creeks surrounded by stands of live oak, mesquite, cedar
elms and native pecan trees will provide a wonderful setting for hiking,
mountain biking, camping, horseback riding, fishing and stargazing.
You can help open Texas’ newest state park.
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TPWF’s Gear Up for Game Wardens program has hit
a $1 million fundraising milestone just two years after the program launched. Thanks
to generous donors, specialty equipment has been deployed across Texas, including
search and rescue inflatable boats, night vision and thermal imaging units and
specialized K-9 units.
“Texas Game Wardens play an important role in
the lives of all Texans,” said Dan Flournoy, chair of the Gear Up for Game
Wardens Leadership Council. “Along with their duty to protect our natural resources,
they are also on the frontlines of natural disasters. There have been
significant flooding events in Texas since Gear Up launched, and there is no
doubt in my mind that specialty gear provided through this program has saved
lives.”
Donations have come from all corners of the
state and in all amounts, from $25 to more than $66,000 from the Saltwater
Anglers League of Texas. The Sabine River Authority has also stepped up in
appreciation of what Texas Game Wardens do for the people of Texas and has donated
more than $70,000 in several grants to the program. In addition, fundraisers
have been held all over the state to fund equipment for their local game
wardens.
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Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD)
wildlife biologists have been conducting research about white-tailed deer at
the Kerr Wildlife Management Area for more than four decades. In 1974, wildlife
biologists established a research herd by bringing in native white-tails from
all over the state. The deer have been maintained as a
pedigreed herd ever since, perhaps the only one of its kind in the world. Researchers
have conducted dozens of interrelated studies over the years to learn more
about the role of nutrition and genetics in antler development, among other
research objectives.
Biologists monitor the progress of those studies
through an annual deer work-up every October. Each deer is weighed and
measured, blood work and other tests are performed, and researchers track every
piece of data they collect. The body of research is second to none, and all of the projects are designed to enhance wild deer management
programs.
This year, several TPWF members enjoyed a
backstage view of the operation, as part of a TPWD Field Trip designed to give
TPWF members a close-up view of this unique facility.
Listen in on our latest podcast to learn more.
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TPWF is planning four TPWD Field Trips in 2020,
only available to TPWF members. Join
now and be eligible to participate in the next one!
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White-tailed deer are beloved by hunters and
wildlife watchers alike. Thanks to wildlife researchers in Texas and beyond, we
know more about them than ever before. Watch our latest Creature Feature to
learn more.
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For the fifth year in a row, our friends at REI
are encouraging us all to spend time outdoors with friends and family on Black
Friday. And this year, they are taking #OptOutside further by encouraging us
all to step up our efforts to protect the environment. Opt to Act calls us to put on our work gloves and join the fight for life outdoors by getting
involved in local park and trail cleanups. Find out how you can take part.
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Texas photographer Mike Marvins loves the Texas
Hill Country and wants to do what he can to conserve it. That’s why the
proceeds of his latest book “The Texas Hill Country-A Photographic Adventure”
are benefitting the conservation work of TPWF. It’s a great holiday gift idea!
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