Although the 2005 Land and Water Conservation and Recreation Plan was intended to have a 10-year life, the agency has decided to engage the public in a mid-term update of the document. The update is meant to provide a 5-year vision for Texas Parks and Wildlife that is understandable to the public and usable by the staff. TPWD is highly visible in the arena of management of species subject to hunting and fishing regulation. It has been the focus of state park advocates in obtaining adequate funding during the last two legislative sessions. However, the agency has another responsibility of particular interest to the Sierra Club.

Since the Resource Protection Division of TPWD was eliminated in 2004, it has been very difficult for the public to identify the correct person or office to contact when there is concern about a permit or action that would affect vulnerable ecosystems, such as wetlands or non-game wildlife. TPWD is the state agency that bears consulting responsibility for these issues. However, if TPWD does not facilitate the public’s ability to identify and access the appropriate staff about these matters, then the agency is falling short in carrying out this consulting responsibility..

Sierra Club members have a particular interest in making sure that ecosystems and non-game wildlife are protected and managed properly. We emphasize the important role of state parks in protecting natural areas and wildlife while providing needed recreation for the public. This is where your help is needed.

Public meetings are scheduled in several Texas cities from July through September 2009, but online comments are accepted through 12:00 AM on September 18, 2009. The PDF version of the Plan and the link to comment on-line is at the TPWD website at: http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/publications/nonpwdpubs/land_and_water_plan/   .

You can contribute to making the Land and Water Conservation and Recreation Plan a better document by making these significant points in your verbal and on-line comments:

1. As part of protecting native ecosystems, TPWD should also be accessible to the public for consultation on permits and actions which would impact ecosystems and wildlife. Section 1-C of the draft document refers to TPWD being available to other agencies, developers, business, and industry. Since TWPD is also a public resource, the public’s interest in protecting ecosystems should also be included. As part of ensuring public access, there should be a clear path for the public to identify individuals in TPWD who are responsible and available for consulting on the issue of ecosystem protection.

2. As part of protecting terrestrial ecosystems (Section 1-C) and providing nature-friendly outdoor recreations opportunities (Section 2-A), the agency should not rely only upon acquisition of property in fee. The agency can also preserve habitat and enhance recreational values through mechanisms such as conservation easements or purchase of development rights. This could be particularly useful around the perimeters around state parks to extend the "green buffer" zone.

3. TPWD should not only manage ecosystems for sustainable harvest of fish and wildlife (Section 1-A), it should also have the long-term goal of maintaining biodiversity of plants, fish, and wildlife.

4. Although the entire process of updating the Land and Water plan is organized on a watershed basis, the draft recommendations regarding expansion of recreation and habitat lands never emphasize the importance of connectivity. Connectivity could be by watershed, by ecosystem, etc. -- but connectivity is of long-term importance. Connectivity will also assist in the protection of threatened, endangered, and high priority species, which is a Section 1-F goal.

5. Section 1-J, which states the goal of anticipating and planning for emerging conservation issues, should also include the issue of genetic isolation and habitat fragmentation. Part of the plan should include developing "Best Conservation Practices" applicable to issues such as siting for wind power generation and highway construction.

September 2009

Last updated:  08/23/2009.   Content © 1999-2009 by the Sierra Club.