The Texas Parks & Wildlife Department is seeking online public input as the department revises its 6-year-old wildlife action plan, a document now called the Texas Conservation Action Plan.

The TCAP is developed by TPWD to encourage land owners, natural resource professionals and the public to preserve our natural heritage for future generations. TPWD urges public and private stakeholders to use the guide in developing conservation initiatives both locally and statewide.

The plan will guide grant distribution programs including the Landowner Incentive Program, the Horned Lizard License Plate funds, State Wildlife Grants and the Healthy Habitats program.

An online public survey for the TCAP draft will be available on the TPWD website from June 10 to July 8. Visitors are encouraged to fill out the survey to help hone state priorities for primarily nongame wildlife conservation.

When finalized, the TCAP will be reviewed by the US Fish and Wildlife Service and go into effect later this year. With a current conservation plan in place, Texas will continue to receive millions of dollars annually in federal state wildlife grants.

The TCAP provides a roadmap for management and recovery projects as well as restoration and research addressing wildlife species of greatest conservation need. It will improve the status of these species across the state to keep them from falling under the Endangered Species Act.

“The plan is only as good as the people who read it, care about it and do something with it,” said Wendy Connally, the department’s TCAP coordinator. “The survey will help us find better ways to communicate with Texans to make a difference for species and habitats in need.”

Last year, the Healthy Habitats program awarded $225,000 in grants to 15 different schools and non-profit youth organizations across the state. With the grant, students created service projects that addressed priorities in the Texas Conservation Action Plan.

Encana Oil & Gas (USA) Inc. donated a total of $486,000 to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation to support the Healthy Habitats grant program and other programs in accordance with the Plan.

The TCAP draft is available on the TPWD website.

‘Fair’ fishing on Navarro

Navarro Mills Lake Marina owner Brenda Wallen (578-1131) reported a mixed bag on fishing action last week, with the lake’s mainstay species, crappie, only registering a “fair” grade during the hours just past daylight on worms and minnows fished from the marina dock.

Black bass action is good along the dam on plastic worms, with the week’s top fish pushing the scale’s needle to the 7.83-pound mark.

Catfishermen are cranking in good numbers of channels on stinkbait in the shallows, as well as blue cats on jug lines baited with shad, Fair numbers of yellow catfish have been caught using perch and goldfish.

Lake Waco fishing

Lake Waco catfish guide Kevin Foster (709-3058) reports that late May yielded solid catches during early morning trips. Foster hit on a honey hole located in 10 feet of water around submerged timber and caught dozens each day.

Foster is using shad, which he’s catching in good numbers, as well. In fact, one day, he netted nearly 100 of the bait fish in only two throws of his cast net.

Catfisherman Mark Fallon spent early mornings last week on the shores of Koehne Park and found the catfish action jumping. His week was highlighted by an 8-pound yellow cat that he caught using live perch.

Plant A Tree program

The Odwalla Juice Company’s annual Plant A Tree program asks residents from around the nation to take 30 seconds to plant a tree online, using the Odwalla website, to support their home state.

Odwalla then donates $1 per virtual tree to plant real trees in state parks. Last year this program raised $15,000 to plant trees in Garner State Park. Texas ranked fourth in participants last year, but is in second place this year behind Michigan.

Pass the word to your friends, family and online contacts, because there is still about $80,000 left to claim for Texas in this program. Go to www.odwalla.com/plantatree to plant your tree in Texas today.

Visit state parks

When planning your summer vacations, don’t forget about day trips to Texas state parks. Central Texans are within an hour’s drive of a number of these treasures, which feature traditional outdoor opportunities as well as modern facilities. Plus, fishing within the boundaries of a state park means you don’t need a fishing license.

www.centexoutdoors.com

717-8907