The Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission today approved $2,922,255 to fund 13 boat ramp repair and renovation projects around the state. A total of 16 boat ramp grant applications requesting a total of $4,914,244 in matching funds were received.

Texas Parks and Wildlife Commissioners Wednesday approved several proposed changes to saltwater fishing regulations recommended by TPWD Coastal Fisheries Division staff. The changes include new regulations dealing with flounder, federal consistency issues for sharks and other species, and a paddle craft licensing and training program. Scoping of these issues has been ongoing since the fall of 2008.

Texas Game Warden Vance Wallace was recognized as the Southeastern Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies "Officer of the Year" today.

The Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission on Jan. 21 authorized the department to seek public comment on a suite of proposed wildlife and hunting related regulations that would expand special buck antler restrictions and liberalize antlerless harvest opportunities in dozens of counties, part of a broader move to transition away from political boundaries and toward biologically-based communities for managing deer populations.

The Fall/Winter issue of the Staying Afloat Newsletter on Boater Education is now available on the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department Website.

Stocking dates are always subject to change on short notice. Be sure to check the online schedule for the most recent updates before leaving home!

The one-hour video documentary Texas the State of Flowing Water will air at 8 p.m. central time, Thursday, Feb. 12 on all Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) stations in Texas. It is the fourth in an award-winning series of water resource documentaries produced by Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and broadcast in partnership with PBS stations.

"Back to nature" seems to be the common theme among 17 recipients of Community Outdoor Outreach Program (CO-OP) grants offered by Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. TPWD this month awarded grants totaling more than $500,000 to school districts, cities, museums, youth groups, foundations and other groups in cities across Texas.

The Budweiser Sharelunker Program has received its second entry of the 2008-2009 season, caught by 16-year-old Kyle Nitschke in Lake Conroe.

A public scoping meeting to gather additional feedback will be held in Grayson County on Thursday, Jan. 8, 2009 at Grayson County College’s Center for Work Place Learning Auditorium near Sherman. The auditorium will open at 6 p.m. and the public meeting will begin at 7 p.m.