Texas Parks and Wildlife - Research Paper Example

?Texas Parks and Wildlife Introduction The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) was created in 1983, but existed since 1897 and is headquartered at 4200 Smith School Road in Austin, Texas. In 2005, those employed by the agency on full time basis were three thousand and thirty eight people. The number of employees reduced marginally in 2006. The department has about one hundred and fourteen state parks and historic sites, fifty-one areas of wildlife management, eight fish hatcheries and several field offices that are located in different parts of the state. Currently, the Texas parks and wildlife department has several responsibilities. These include managing and conserving states natural resources and providing the public with opportunities and access to fish and wildlife habitats. Background information and history The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) was created in 1983, following the merger between the State Parks Board and the Game and Fish commission. However, its formation can be traced back to 1879 when fish commissioner’s officer was first established as a state agency in 1879. In 1983, the department was authorized to oversee all the resources both fish and the wildlife in all counties of Texas. The authority was given after the Wildlife Conservation Act was approved by the Texas legislature. Several historic sites that were under the management of Texas Parks and Wildlife earlier were reassigned to the Texas historical commission on 1st January 2008. In 1879, the governor was authorized to appoint a fish commissioner by the 16th legislature of Texas. The governor appointed the commissioner to a term of two years after being approved by the senate. This appointment was to ensure that the Act for fish preservation was carefully complied with. In addition, it was meant to ensure that fish ladders and fish ways were constructed. The Fish Commissioner’s office came to being in 1881. The main purpose for its creation was to ensure that fish was preserved and propagated, and to establish the fish ways and the fish ladders. In 1895, the house bill 55, the 24th legislation and the regular session created Fish and Oyster Commissioner’s Office. The commissioner, under the Fish and Oyster had several duties. The commissioner was mandated to protect fish, turtles, the state coastal waters, natural oyster beds and reefs and the private beds location. The commissioner was also given powers to appoint his deputy commissioners. In 1907, the responsibilities of Commissioner’s Office were expanded. It also covered protection of wild birds and wild game. Therefore, commissioner was renamed Game, Fish, and Oyster commissioner. Fish and Oyster Commissioner’s Office was made up of three members. In 1972, the number doubled to six members. By 1983, the commission was made up of nine members who were appointed by the governor and approved by the senate. The commission members are office bearers for overlapping six-year terms. The governor appoints the chairperson of the commission biennially. The meetings of the commission are normally quarterly. However, when required they meet on a regular basis. The major responsibility of the commission is to acquire the appropriate rules and policies that play a significant role in conducting the various parks and wildlife department programs. Location and management of the Texas parks and wildlife department TPWD headquarters is located at 4200 Smith School Road in Austin, Texas. Both the regional and field offices are established in different parts throughout the state. Those who are not working with the headquarters in Austin are known to be seventy-six percent of the total department staff. The management and coordination of all the policies and programs that concerns personnel is done in the Austin headquarters, Human Resource Division. A commission that comprises of nine members governs TPWD. The governor appoints the commission. The major responsibility of the commission is to adopt appropriate rules and regulations. This will be used in various programs and activities of the department. The administration and operation executive director together with his deputy executive director has responsibilities to play when managing the agency. The department is made up of eleven divisions namely, wildlife, coastal fisheries, inland fisheries, state parks, infrastructure, legal, administrative resources, communications, Human Resources, information technology, and the law enforcement. Provisions of the Texas parks and wildlife code are mainly enforced by the game wardens and the deputy game wardens. The game warders may also take action and to arrest individual for a given offense. The above divisions conduct the various duties and functions of the agency. An executive director administers the department. The commission of parks and wildlife appoints him or her. Scope the Texas parks and wildlife department The department controls a total number of one hundred and fourteen state parks and historic sites, fifty-one areas of wildlife management, eight fish hatcheries and several field offices that are located in different parts of the state. The service population is made up of hunters, anglers, boaters, landowners, commercial fish men, local government, state park visitors, and the public at large. Most department services are within reach in the various regions of the state. In the fiscal years 2006 and 2007, the department had a Full-Time-Equivalent (FTE) cap of 2901.8 that was a legislatively authorized. The workforce is estimated to be 2900. This number comprises of both the full time and the part time employees. During the summer period, the number of employees increases because of temporary workforce being employed due to increased workload. Functions of the Texas parks and wildlife department According to Kowtko (56-60), the major functions of the department include the following, to manage and conserve the natural and cultural, resources of the state, to provide opportunities of various outdoors recreational activities, conservation, training, and outreach, and interpretation of cultural and historical events. TPWD is involved in the following, Controlling and preserving public lands system, which consist of state parks, historic sites, fish hatcheries, and areas of wildlife management. In these resources, over 1.4 million acres of different areas in the park are included. These are recreation and park areas, wildlife management areas, and natural and cultural areas Hodge (133). It acts as the agency for the state, with the obligation to conserve, protect, and improve the fish and wildlife resources of the state. When these obligation are fulfilled, the department then extends it roles to supervise and evaluate habitats, conduct survey on the population of fish and both game and non-game, conduct various studies and exhibition projects and to supervise eight fish hatcheries. It governs and imposes commercial and recreational activities which include the following, fishing, hunting, boating and nongame state laws. A total of 500 Commissioned peaces officers who are in the position of the game wardens in TPWD plays the following roles: to ensure regulations are observed, and compliance with existing codes which include, requirements of the Texas Parks and Wildlife code, specific parts of the penal code, the water code and the antiquities code, (Parent, 324). It supervises, maintains, and improves the quality and quantity of rivers, streams, lakes, coastal marshes, bays, beaches, gulf waters and other aquatic and wildlife habitat, (Telfair, 234). Through statute, the department organizes most activities with other different states and federal agencies which includes the following; Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, the General Land Office, the Texas Water Development Board, the U.S Environmental Protection Agency and the US Fish and Wildlife Service. It Creates awareness among the public concerning existing laws and rules that regulate fish, game wildlife and environmental habitats. In addition, it provides education on boating safety, hunter’s safety especially when handling different firearms, conservation of fish and the wildlife and outdoor recreation activities. It also offers direct corresponding grants to local political sections and nonprofit entities. These grants are used to plan, acquire, and develop the local parks, for recreational facilities for both the indoor and the outdoor and for programs that concerns informing and conserving undeserved population programs. Employees of the Texas parks and wildlife department Human resource department of the Texas parks and wildlife department has played a critical role in helping the department achieve its missions. Human resource department has put in place various programs to attract and retain vibrant workforce that is both diverse and skilled. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department had about two thousand nine hundred full and part-time employees. It is estimated that $ 149,000,000 was spent on employees in 2006 and comprised 53 percent of the total budget of the department (TPWD1 1). The Department is made up of a diverse workforce. These include game wardens that are in different fields, scientists who are working in the labs, headquarters executives, technicians for both fish and the wildlife, the park rangers, specialists who monitor the natural resource and administrators who are located in several other places. A total number of three thousand five hundred permanent employees and three hundred interns are employed by the agency every summer. Those employed are from different fields of study. The internships program keep changing, however, it usually total to twelve weeks duration. In most cases, it runs from May to August. Since its establishment, the department has lost eighteen game wardens. One warden died in an aircraft accident, four in an automobile accident, six drowned, and five in gunfire. In addition, one died of heart attack and one of vehicular assault. Goals of the Texas parks and wildlife department The goals of the agency include the following: first, access improvement especially to the outdoors. This is possible through proper management and conservation of state park properties and facilities and cultural and natural resources, Improving the visitor’s experience quality and safety and sustaining the all the recreational needs and local parks. Under this goal are two objectives that include ensuring all the TPWD facilities and sites are affordable to all public and safety exists. The second objective is to provide the required amount of funds and the required support for all local parks. Secondly, to protect, maintain, supervise, control, and advance the agency sites. This is done purposely for recreational activities, biodiversity, and the cultural heritage. Third goal of the department is to assist landowners in land management for wildlife habitat. Fourth goal is to encourage involvement and to improve on the quality of hunting fishing, boating and all other outdoor recreational activities. Fifth goal is to preserve and better the quality and the quantity of the water in order to meet the various needs of the fish, wildlife and all recreation activities. The above goals are achieved through proper practices of management and best existing science. Under the above goals, the department would be able to conserve biological diversity of the Texas resources that includes wildlife and habitat, and ensure that quality hunting exists. It also assures conservation of fishes and other aquatic life in Texas and ensures quality fishing continues. The sixth goal is to create awarenesss and provide adequate education to all public concerning the natural, the cultural states resources, and other existing recreational opportunities. In addition, to ensure all the state statutes rules and licensing requirements are well complied with. Under this goal are two objectives which include; first, to ensure agency rules and regulation are observed by the public, secondly, is to improve public education on the importance of conserving all Texas natural and cultural resources, increment on the outdoor recreational activities participation and to encourage resource users to have safe, legal and ethical behaviors. Legislation The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, whose core function is to oversee and protect wildlife, fish as well as their habitats, have a number of rules and regulation that govern all people who access the parks and waters of Texas. This is to preserve and conserve natural as well as cultural heritage of Texas. In addition, it allows people who visit the natural and cultural conservancy to do hunting, fishing and involve in outdoor recreation for their own enjoyment and future generation. Rules and laws are entrenched in the constitution of Texas and must be followed by all people who get access to conservancy areas of Texas. Rules and regulation clearly states application of different kinds of hunting and fishing licenses (permits), transfer of Wildlife resources, boating and importations of wild life. It also provides general regulations on fishing in fresh and salt waters. Any person who is eighteen and above and want to hunt or fish must have hunting licenses regardless of age. Animals that can be hunted include deer, birds, frogs and turtles. However, persons who are seventeen years and below can purchase and hunt animals under the Youth Hunting License. The type of license issued by the department include: Youth Hunting License; Senior Resident Hunting License; Lifetime Resident Hunting License; Lifetime Resident Combination Hunting and Fishing License; Texas Resident Active Duty Military Super Combo Hunting and Fishing License Package; Super Combo or Resident Combination Hunting and Fishing License Package; and Resident Disabled Veteran Super Combo Hunting and Fishing License Package. The hunting licenses cost between US$ 7 and US$ 315. For a fishing license to be valid, it must have an endorsement of salt or fresh water stamp. The department set aside the first Saturday in June annually as a free fishing day. At this day, no person is required to posses a fishing license or stamp endorsement to fish. Resident and non-resident fishing licenses include; fresh water package; Saltwater package, all-Water package, Senior Freshwater Package; Senior Saltwater Package; Senior All-Water Package; Special Resident All-Water License; Year-from-Purchase All-Water Package and One-Day All-Water License. The fishing licenses cost between US$ 7 and US$ 68. Gap analysis Even though economic improvements favour most employers, it affects TPWD’s negatively. The agency is unable to recruit and retain the best personnel, especially those serving in the professional and administrative positions. Moreover, retirement influence the company negatively. The workforce challenges are many. First, concerns women and the minorities. Historically, recruitment of women and the minorities has been challenging for TPWD. This mostly occurs in the following divisions, the natural resources, and the law enforcement professionals. Secondly, law enforcement division has many responsibilities. In the law enforcement division, TPWD anticipates increase of new responsibilities, especially in enforcing homeland security and laws on hunting and conservation. With regard to different natural disasters that include hurricanes Katrina and Rita, the expectation of the department on rescue and relief efforts roles will be on the rise. In addition, the department will have to deal with usage increment, conservation and waterways protection. TPWD will have to ensure water laws are keenly observed as the usage rate rises and form partnership with various agencies. The third challenge concerns the wildlife. Due to anticipation and encouragement for individuals to utilize TPWD natural resources, the department is expected to come with various financial incentive programs. This will enable the department to attain the outlined wildlife management goals and conduct public lands programs expansion. Moreover, the department will have to conduct more research activities for the habitat management. This helps to determine how wildlife management areas are affected by the rise in public use. Fourth, is the challenge on Fisheries, several opportunities have resulted from Resource Protection Division after being merged into the divisions of Inland Fisheries and Coastal Fisheries. The main objective was to enhance the collection of revenue quantity and quality of water by streamlining various processes and activities. With regard to the state’s water, these efforts may lead to introduction of new hatchery and monitoring programs. Fifth is the challenge of Customer Service and Outreach. As opportunities on revenue generating business continue and expand, the department will be required to concentrate on different customer service issues and outreach programs. In order to create awareness among the constituents concerning TPWD and its natural resources, the department will have to improve the Web technology use. It will also help to carrying out in-house training that will empower TPWD employees to perform their jobs better. Finally is the administration challenge. In TPWD, it is important to control the budget and expenditures of the department in an effective way. In addition, for adequate revenue control and collection from different sources, improved financial automated systems use will be necessary. To be able to use the existing financial operating systems, the department staff will require adequate training in order to equip them with proper skills. Sources Hodge, Larry . Official Guide to Texas Wildlife Management Areas. USA ,University of Texas Press, 2000. Parent, Laurence. Official Guide to Texas State Parks and Historic Sites.USA, University of Texas Press, 2008. Telfair, Raymond. Texas wildlife resources and land uses. USA, University of Texas Press, 1999. Kowtko, Stacy. America's Natural Places.USA, ABC-CLIO, 2009. TPWD1. Workforce Plan Fiscal Years 2007-2011, 2007. TPWD2. Texas Gulf Ecological Management Sites (GEMS), 29 March 2011, . Read More