Latest news with #TexasParks&Wildlife
Yahoo
28-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Texas purchases 1,100 acres of land for new state park
The Brief Central Texas to get new state park Texas Parks & Wildlife signed off on purchase of 1,100 acres this week The park is expected to be fully open to the public in four years AUSTIN, Texas - Central Texas will be getting a new state park in the next few years. Texas Parks & Wildlife signed off on the purchase this week. What we know The rugged Texas Hill Country is already known for its stunning state parks and now the state is adding one more. "The Colorado River is beautiful," said Justin Rhodes, the Deputy Director of Texas State Parks. "It's a resource Texas should be proud to have and just having access to the river, more access, miles of river frontage, but also Yancey Creek. That's a unique feature on the property." By the numbers The more than 3,000-acre park will be across the river from Colorado Bend State Park, which is already pretty popular with 80,000 visitors a year. The park will include 1,100 acres of land in Lampasas and Burnet counties that the state officially purchased this week, along with 2,000 acres that had already been bought by Burnet County. The state park will be developed with the Centennial Parks Conservation Fund, a one-billion dollar fund approved by voters in 2023 for new state parks. What they're saying "It's well-known for falls and access to the Colorado River, but pretty light on the amenities while you're there," said Rhodes. The new site will feature some of the same Central Texas beauty, but Rhodes hopes it will offer more options for overnight stays. "Potentially RV sites, potentially cabins, cottages, we're still early in the planning process," said Rhodes. "We're excited, we're excited for the park system, we're excited for Texans," added Rhodes. "It's a new era of state parks. We just celebrated 100 years and this is helping us launch into the next 100 years of Texas State Parks." What's next The park is expected to be fully open to the public in four years, but they are hoping to bring fishers and bikers in around the two-year mark. Hunters could be welcomed as early as next fall. There's still no word on what the new park will be called. The Source Information in this report comes from reporting/interviews by FOX 7 Austin's Lauren Rangel.
Yahoo
23-04-2025
- Yahoo
Report: Abbeville man among those killed in Texas boat explosion
PORT ARTHUR, Texas () — Two Louisiana men have died and one is in critical condition following a workboat explosion in Texas, according to media reports. , a man from Abbeville and another from Houma died in the explosion. Justice of the Peace Joseph Guillory told KFDM the boat captain was from Abbeville. He was in his mid 40s. The worker was from Houma. He was in his early 40s. The judge has ordered autopsies and says the names will be released when relatives are notified. The judge told us none of the victims suffered burns. First responders from the Port Arthur Fire Department were doing CPR on three victims on Taylor Bayou in the J.D. Murphree Wildlife Refuge, Interim Fire Chief Robert Havens told KFDM. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Interim Deputy Fire Chief Antonio Mitchell says the cause is a fuel or gas explosion near the engine ignition. A man who works with the victims told KFDM they were working on levees at the wildlife refuge for Texas Parks & Wildlife. This story will be updated as more information becomes available. This vintage-inspired Tupperware is perfect for spring Virtual reality app helping students in Louisiana with public speaking Family horrified as boater appears to run over manatees in Florida Remains of woman, child found near Gilgo Beach identified by police Rayne awaits to celebrate the 53rd Annual Frog Festival Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
11-02-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Invasive Australian crayfish in Texas waters causing concern for wildlife
An invasive species of crayfish is spreading through Texas waters, sparking grave wildlife concerns for conservationists. Researchers in Brownsville, Texas, have been investigating reports of an Australian red claw crayfish, a crustacean that typically belongs 8,000 miles away, after the species was seen pervading southern Texas waters, specifically the Rio Grande Valley. The Rio Grande is a free-flowing natural river located in the southernmost tip of Texas that spans roughly 4,200 square miles across four counties. Around 196 miles of the river, which was designated by Congress in 1978 as 'the Rio Grande Wild and Scenic River,' meanders through stretches of breathtaking desert and canyons of stratified rock. Texas Parks & Wildlife officials are concerned that the crayfish species is spreading quickly, causing havoc by outnumbering other native species that exist in the same water. The Australian red claw is a large-bodied crayfish, distinctively recognized by its blue-green body with red and maroon highlights. When fully grown, the crustacean can reach a total length of around 10 inches and can weigh up to 1.3lb, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Typically, they can be found in tropical and subtropical climates, coastal streams, and freshwater environments, and favor slower-moving upper reaches of rivers as well as lakes and lagoons, according to experts. At present, there are over 400 crayfish species that inhabit waters in the U.S. – a total that amounts to roughly 70 percent of the world's total species, according to Virginia State University. Speaking on a PBS show aired Sunday about the concerns, University of Illinois crustaceans expert Chris Taylor, said: 'The biggest threat that we know of for native crayfish species are invasive crayfish coming into new habitats and actively displacing them.' Taylor added that one of the goals of the biological project in Brownsville was to 'assess that threat'. 'You can't overstate how important crayfish are. They are prey source for fish species, mammal species, [and] birds,' said University of Illinois aquatic ecologist Dusty Swedberg. 'Everything is interconnected and [if] you start to lose some of those middle pieces in a food web, it's going to have an impact somewhere else', Taylor added. Researchers have been monitoring the risk of competition that the invasive species poses to the native crayfish revealing that they were trying to see 'where they are, how many are there, [and] if they're successfully reproducing.' Texas Parks and Wildlife invertebrate biologist Archis Grubh said he was expecting to find at least '50 to 100' after researchers waded through the river. However, he remained positive stating there were 'not as many in the resacas as I was expecting, so I think that's a good sign.'
The Independent
11-02-2025
- Science
- The Independent
Invasive Australian crayfish invading Texas water causing concern for wildlife
An invasive species of crayfish has invaded Texas waters, sparking grave wildlife concerns for conservationists. Researchers in Brownsville, Texas, have been investigating reports of an Australian red claw crayfish, a crustacean that typically belongs 8,000 miles away after the species was seen pervading southern Texas waters, specifically the Rio Grande Valley. The Rio Grande is a free-flowing natural river located in the southernmost tip of Texas that spans roughly 4,200 square miles across four counties. Around 196 miles of the river, which was designated by Congress in 1978 as 'the Rio Grande Wild and Scenic River', meanders through stretches of breathtaking desert and canyons of stratified rock. Texas Parks & Wildlife officials are concerned that the crayfish species is spreading quickly, causing havoc by outnumbering other native species that exist in the same water. The Australian red claw is a large-bodied crayfish, distinctively recognized by its blue-green body with red and maroon highlights. When fully grown, the crustacean can reach a total length of around 10 inches and can weigh up to 1.3 pounds, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Typically, they can be found in tropical and subtropical climates, coastal streams, and freshwater environments, and favor slower-moving upper reaches of rivers as well as lakes and lagoons, according to experts. At present, there are over 400 crayfish species that inhabit waters in the U.S. – a total that amounts to roughly 70 percent of the world's total species, according to Virginia State University. Speaking on a PBS show aired Sunday about the concerns, University of Illinois' crustaceans expert Chris Taylor, said: 'The biggest threat that we know of for native crayfish species are invasive crayfish coming into new habitats and actively displacing them.' Taylor added that one of the goals of the biological project in Brownsville was to 'assess that threat'. 'You can't overstate how important crayfish are. They are prey source for fish species, mammal species, [and] birds', said University of Illinois aquatic ecologist Dusty Swedberg. 'Everything is interconnected and [if] you start to lose some of those middle pieces in a food web, it's going to have an impact somewhere else', Taylor added. Researchers have been monitoring the risk of competition that the invasive species poses to the native crayfish revealing that they were trying to see 'where they are, how many are there, [and] if they're successfully reproducing'. Texas Parks and Wildlife Invertebrate biologist Archis Grubh said he was expecting to find at least '50 to 100' after researchers waded through the river. However, he remained positive stating there were 'not as many in the resacas as I was expecting, so I think that's a good sign.'
