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Late last year, Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation (TPWF) donated the remaining acreage of the Powderhorn Ranch to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD), fulfilling a promise made when Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation acquired the property in 2014. The acquisition of the 17,351-acre Powderhorn Ranch in Calhoun County forever conserves one of the largest remaining tracts of unspoiled coastal prairie in the state. We’re celebrating this conservation victory and sharing gratitude for our partners and donors in this newly published report. Sarah Affeldt’s new year got off to a great start. On Jan. 1, 2022, she officially took the helm as the very first superintendent of Powderhorn State Park on the Texas coast. There’s a long road ahead to shepherd the property into a state park that is open to the public, and Affeldt is looking forward to the challenge. Affeldt’s education and work experience has prepared her well to step into her new role as Powderhorn State Park Superintendent. She first visited Powderhorn a few years ago and knew from the moment she drove through the gates that she wanted to work there one day. Now her dream has come true.       Thanks to the generosity of Phillips 66, visitor experiences at parks across Texas have improved. In an ongoing partnership with TPWF, Phillips 66 has funded a variety of conservation and recreation projects in state parks, as well as the Neighborhood Fishin’ Program. At Lake Corpus Christi State Park, a recently completed accessible nature playscape invites children of all abilities to enjoy the new park feature. Funds from Phillips 66 have also enhanced the park’s mountain bike trails. The park’s popular Catfish Point Trail has been improved, and a new trail will soon connect two existing trail segments. Phillips 66 is also helping to enhance neighborhood fishing experiences in Amarillo and Pasadena. Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s Neighborhood Fishin’ Program provides an opportunity for year-round recreational fishing in local lakes for urban youth and families. Phillips 66 generously sponsored two lakes, one at Medical Center Park in Amarillo and one at Burke Crenshaw Park in Pasadena. “We’re thrilled to see these projects come to fruition to benefit park visitors across the state,” said Claudia Kreisle, Manager of Social Impact at Phillips 66. “Our partnership with Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation aligns with our corporate philanthropy focus on environment and sustainability. Our employees live and work in communities across Texas, and we’re pleased to help enhance these park experiences for all."       Declining quail populations in the U.S. has spurred conservation efforts across the country. Here in Texas, in the Cross Timbers region alone, there has been an 89% decline in average bobwhite abundance since 1978. TPWD biologists are partnering with experts across the state to hone-in on the best strategies to bring back this beloved gamebird. This conservation work is funded through Texas hunting license fees, a portion of the proceeds of the Upland Game Bird Stamp, Farm Bill conservation programs, and contributions from a number of nonprofit organizations dedicated to quail conservation.  But there’s still a critical need for additional funding, and that’s why TPWF launched a quail conservation license plate a few years ago to enhance quail conservation efforts, including habitat conservation and education. For just $30 you can put one of these conservation license plates on your vehicle, motorcycle or trailer. For every license plate purchased, $22 goes to TPWF to support quail conservation. What better way to drive home your support for quail conservation in Texas? Order your quail conservation plate today!       TPWF is raising awareness and encouraging all Texans to get involved in conserving the wild things and wild places of our state. We Will Not Be Tamed calls us all to appreciate the wildness of Texas, the vastness of our Texas spirit and why we should be inspired to conserve it. TPWF has enlisted a group of remarkable Texan outdoorsmen and women who stand together and tell their stories about the place that has given so much. This year we’re proud to introduce you to a new cadre of ambassadors. We hope they will inspire you to get involved! 2914 Swiss Avenue Dallas, TX 75204 | Tel: 214.720.1478 © All rights reserved. Donate | Forward to a friend | Visit our website | Email Preferences | Unsubscribe