Tip:
Highlight text to annotate it
X
>> COMING UP ON TEXAS PARKS & WILDLIFE...
>> THE CRITICAL STAGE IS ACTUALLY GETTING THE FISH
OUT INTO THE PONDS AND GETTING A SUCCESSFUL SPAWN.
IT'S A REAL BALANCING AND TIMING ACT TO IT JUST RIGHT.
>> BIENVENIDOS AL PARQUE ESTATAL LAGO CASA BLANCA,
WELCOME TO LAKE CASA BLANCA STATE PARK.
>> THE OFFICIAL STATE PLANT IS PERHAPS AS COMMON
BUT CERTAINLY NOT AS CUDDLY.
THE PRICKLY PEAR CACTUS CAN GROW PRACTICALLY ANYWHERE.
>> THIS IS REALLY TYPICAL OF LIFE IN A SEA GRASS BED.
(theme music)
♪
♪
>> TEXAS PARKS & WILDLIFE,
A TELEVISION SERIES FOR ALL OUTDOORS.
THIS SERIES IS FUNDED IN PART BY A GRANT
FROM THE WILDLIFE AND SPORT FISH RESTORATION PROGRAM.
THROUGH YOUR PURCHASES OF HUNTING AND FISHING EQUIPMENT,
AND MOTORBOAT FUELS, OVER 40 MILLION DOLLARS IN
CONSERVATION EFFORTS ARE FUNDED IN TEXAS EACH YEAR.
>> ADDITIONAL FUNDING PROVIDED BY RAM TRUCKS.
GUTS. GLORY. RAM.
>> IN THE COOL RUNNING STREAMS OF THE TEXAS HILL COUNTRY,
WHERE THE WATER IS CLEAR AND VIRTUALLY UNDISTURBED,
THERE IS A THREAT LOOMING OVER ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT
AQUATIC SPECIES THAT LIVE HERE.
THAT SPECIES IS THE STATE FISH OF TEXAS, THE GUADALUPE BASS.
>> MIKE, ARE YOU DOING ANY GOOD?
>> GOOD AT TYING ON FLIES.
(laughs)
>> DR. GUY HARRISON AND HIS FRIEND MIKE ANDREWS
ARE FLY FISHING THE NORTH FORK OF THE GUADALUPE RIVER.
THEY'RE LOOKING FOR ONE OF THE RIVER'S ORIGINAL SPECIES.
>> I GOT HIM...
FISH ON!
HE'S A GUADALUPE BASS.
HE MIGHT BE A HYBRID, BUT HE'S GUADALUPE.
HE'S A NICE FISH, HE'S ABOUT 14, 15 INCHES.
I DIDN'T KNOW I HAD HIM HARDLY UNTIL I FELT HIM
BECAUSE HE DIDN'T MAKE MUCH OF A SPLASH.
HE JUST KIND OF SUCKED IT UNDER.
RUN SOME WATER THROUGH YOUR GILLS HERE SO YOU CAN GO.
HE PUT UP A NICE FIGHT, PUT UP A NICE FIGHT!
>> THE GUADALUPE BASS IS A GOOD SPORTS FISH.
IT PUTS UP A FINE FIGHT.
IT'S A PRETTY FISH.
IT DOESN'T GET REAL BIG, PROBABLY AROUND THREE POUNDS
WOULD BE THE LARGEST.
BUT YOU GET SOME NICE SIZED ONES AND THEY'RE NATIVE TO OUR STATE.
>> THE BIGGEST PROBLEM IS THAT MOST OF THE GUADALUPE BASS
YOU CATCH ARE REALLY HYBRIDS.
AS YOU KNOW, IT'S THE STATE FISH.
SO WE REALLY OUGHT TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THAT.
>> A TEXAS NATIVE, THE GUADALUPE BASS HAS BEEN
IN DANGER OF BECOMING EXTINCT.
THAT'S BECAUSE THE POPULAR SMALL-MOUTH BASS, THAT ALSO
INHABIT THE SAME STREAMS, HAS BEEN CROSS BREEDING
WITH THE NATIVE GUADALUPE.
>> SMALL-MOUTH BASS WERE BROUGHT INTO TEXAS
BY TEXAS PARKS & WILDLIFE IN THE MID 70S
TO PROVIDE AN ADDITIONAL SPORT FISH FOR ANGLERS,
HAVING NO IDEA THAT THEY MIGHT HYBRIDIZE
WITH OUR NATIVE HILL COUNTRY GUADALUPE BASS.
>> WITH SUPPORT FROM THE UPPER GUADALUPE RIVER AUTHORITY
AND LOCAL FISHING CLUBS, IT'S HERE,
AT THE HEART OF THE HILLS FISHERIES SCIENCE CENTER,
THAT DR. GARY GARRETT AND SCIENCE CENTER TECHNICIANS
ARE TRYING TO SAVE THE GUADALUPE BASS.
>> THE PROBLEMS WITH THE HYBRIDIZATION OF
GUADALUPE BASS WERE ACTUALLY DISCOVERED BACK IN THE LATE 70S.
IN THE LATE 80S I GOT INVOLVED IN IT AND WE DID A RANGE-WIDE
SURVEY TO DETERMINE THE EXTENT OF THE PROBLEM
AND WE FOUND TO OUR DISMAY THAT IT WAS QUITE EXTENSIVE.
WE WERE FAIRLY CERTAIN IF WE DIDN'T DO ANYTHING,
WE WOULD LOSE THE FISH ENTIRELY, THIS SPECIES WOULD GO EXTINCT.
>> EXTINCTION WAS NOT AN OPTION TO DR. GARRETT.
SO, HE HELPED DEVISE A STOCKING PROGRAM
THAT WOULD POTENTIALLY BRING BACK THE GUADALUPE.
>> WE BEGAN WORK TO RAISE THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS
OF PURE GUADALUPE BASS, PUT THEM BACK INTO THE SYSTEM
AND SIMPLY OVERWHELM THE HYBRIDS.
(sounds of water running over falls)
>> LET'S GO GET 'EM, SHANE!
>> FISHERIES TECHNICIANS SHANE PAVLICEK AND KRA AHRENS
ARE FISHING FOR GUADALUPE BASS AT SEVERAL SPOTS ALONG NEARBY
JOHNSON CREEK.
THEY ARE COLLECTING DATA ON THE FISH, A CENSUS OF SORTS,
TO FIND OUT WHO'S WHO AMONG THE BASS COMMUNITY.
>> EVERY FALL WE SEND THE GUYS OUT TO COLLECT GUADALUPE BASS.
>> THE POINT OF THAT IS TWOFOLD.
ONE IS TO JUST ANALYZE THE POPULATION TO SEE HOW WE'RE
DOING AND WHAT PERCENTAGE OF HYBRIDS ARE OUT THERE.
BUT THEN WE ALSO KEEP SOME OF THE PURER LARGE ADULTS,
AND HOLD THEM AS OUR BROOD FISH.
>> THAT'S WHAT WERE LOOKING FOR THAT WILL MAKE A BROODER
RIGHT THERE.
GET HIM BACK TO THE HATCHERY, AND HOPEFULLY GET A BUNCH
OF FINGERLINGS FROM THAT ONE.
>> CATCHING THE RIGHT FISH CAN BE A CHALLENGE.
>> GOT ME A LITTLE ONE!
OH!
I HAVE ANOTHER GREEN SUNFISH.
ANOTHER STINKIN' SUNFISH!
ANOTHER GREEN SUNFISH.
THESE THINGS ARE GETTING ON MY NERVES!
>> BUT PERSISTENCE USUALLY PAYS OFF.
>> THERE WE GO, GOOD OL' GUADALUPE BASS!
RIGHT THERE AT MY THUMB IS A BROWN TOOTH PATCH
AND THAT'S ONE OF THE WAYS OF IDENTIFYING A GUADALUPE BASS.
>> AFTER THE FISH ARE CAUGHT THEY'RE BROUGHT BACK
TO THE RESEARCH CENTER.
THERE WE NOTE LOCATION THEY WERE CAUGHT IN,
HOW MANY FROM EACH LOCATION AND EACH FISH IS INJECTED
WITH AN INTERNAL TAG.
>> 260.
>> SO EACH OF THESE FISH ARE INDIVIDUALLY IDENTIFIED.
AND WE TAKE FIN CLIPS OFF OF THE FISH FOR ANALYSIS.
IN THE VERY EARLY DAYS, WE ACTUALLY HAD TO LOOK
AT THE FISH AND MEASURE THINGS LIKE NUMBERS OF SCALES
AND FIN RAYS AND PRETTY MUCH MAKE OUR BEST GUESS
AS TO WHETHER IT WAS PURE OR HYBRID.
TODAY WE USE THE LATEST TECHNOLOGY AND THAT'S DNA
ANALYSIS AND WE CAN TELL NOT ONLY IF IT'S PURE OR NOT.
WE CAN TELL IF IT WAS A BACK-CROSSED HYBRID.
WE CAN TELL A LOT ABOUT ITS GENETIC HISTORY.
THE OTHER NICE THING ABOUT THIS TECHNOLOGY IS WE DON'T
HAVE TO KILL THE FISH TO FIND OUT WHAT'S GOING ON.
WE CAN LITERALLY JUST CUT A LITTLE BIT OF THEIR FIN.
THE FISH ARE JUST FINE.
>> ONCE THE DNA TESTING IS COMPLETED,
THE PURE GUADALUPE BASS ARE SEPARATED FROM THE HYBRIDS
BACK AT THE SCIENCE CENTER.
THEY'LL BE HELD THROUGH THE WINTER MONTHS UNTIL SPRING.
THAT'S WHEN MATING PAIRS WILL BE MATCHED AND MOVED
TO THE PONDS FOR SPAWNING.
IT'S A COORDINATED EFFORT WITH MOTHER NATURE,
DESIGNED TO PRODUCE AS MANY FISH AS POSSIBLE.
>> LARGE.
>> ONE LARGE.
>> LARGE.
>> ANOTHER LARGE.
>> ONE SMALL.
>> ONE SMALL.
>> THE CRITICAL STAGE IS ACTUALLY GETTING THE FISH
OUT INTO THE PONDS AND GETTING A SUCCESSFUL SPAWN.
WE'VE GOT TO TIME IT JUST RIGHT.
IF WE PUT THE FISH OUT TOO EARLY AND WE GET A LATE NORTHER
WE CAN LOSE EVERYTHING, SO IT'S A REAL BALANCING AND
TIMING ACT TO GET IT JUST RIGHT.
>> FISHERIES TECHNICIAN BOBBY WIENECKI GREW UP
NEAR THE SCIENCE CENTER.
HE'S BEEN FAMILIAR WITH THE STATE FISH
PRACTICALLY ALL HIS LIFE.
>> WHEN I WAS A KID GROWING UP, I USED TO FISH JOHNSON CREEK
AND WE USED TO CATCH A CERTAIN LITTLE BASS
AND WE ALWAYS CALLED IT A RIVER BASS.
BUT THEN I FOUND OUT THAT THEY HAD THE REAL NAME
OF A GUADALUPE BASS.
>> PART OF BOBBY'S JOB IS TO MANAGE THE PRODUCTIVITY
OF THE PONDS.
BUT THE GUADALUPE THRIVE IN FAST WATER,
AND GETTING THEM TO SPAWN IN OPEN PONDS WASN'T EASY.
UNTIL...
THE CREATION OF THE GUADALUPE BASS CONDO.
>> IT SEEMS LIKE THEY WANT TO HANG AROUND ROCK LEDGES,
UNDER ROCKS AND THAT'S WHERE WE PICK UP MOST OF OUR FISH.
WE MORE OR LESS DECIDED TO COME UP WITH A CONDO
THAT YOU SET IN A POND THAT THEY WOULD FEEL MORE SECURE.
I THINK IT'S PROBABLY A 95% DIFFERENCE
THAN JUST LETTING THEM GO IN A POND WITHOUT ANY COVER.
>> WHEN THE MALE HAS SUCCESSFULLY ATTRACTED A FEMALE
TO THE BASS CONDO, SHE COULD LAY UP TO 9,000 EGGS,
WHICH WILL ONLY TAKE A FEW DAYS TO HATCH.
THE MALE WILL REMAIN AT THE NEST TO PROTECT THE YOUNG
FROM WOULD-BE PREDATORS.
AFTER 3 MONTHS, THE PONDS ARE DRAINED.
THE BROOD FISH ARE SAVED FOR FUTURE RESTOCKING EFFORTS,
BUT THE FINGERLINGS WILL BE MOVED TO THEIR NEW HOME
IN JOHNSON CREEK.
>> WE DON'T WANT TO STOCK THEM AT TOO SMALL OF A SIZE
BECAUSE THEY'LL JUST...
BASICALLY WE'LL JUST BE PUTTING FISH FOOD OUT IN THE RIVER.
WE WANT THEM TO BE LARGE ENOUGH TO FEND FOR THEMSELVES
AND HAVE A FAIRLY GOOD CHANCE OF SURVIVAL.
ONCE WE GET TO THE CREEK, WHAT WE DO IS FIND GOOD LOCATIONS,
GOOD HABITAT, GOOD HIDING PLACES, AND THE KIND OF PLACES
THAT GUADALUPE BASS ARE DESIGNED TO HIDE IN.
THEY KNOW, THEY RECOGNIZE THAT THIS IS WHERE I BELONG
AND THEY'LL MOVE RIGHT INTO THEIR HABITAT.
>> WE'RE PUTTING THEM IN SLOWLY SO THAT THEY CAN ADJUST
TO THIS NEW ENVIRONMENT.
WE'RE WORKING WITH THE STATE FISH OF TEXAS HERE.
SO THAT'S KIND OF A ONE-OF-A-KIND DEAL.
>> THE PLAN FOR THE PROGRAM IS TO STOCK INTENSIVELY
FOR 5 YEARS.
WHAT I WANT TO DO IS PUT A QUARTER OF A MILLION FISH
INTO THE GUADALUPE RIVER AND ITS TRIBUTARIES EVERY YEAR
AND IN DOING THAT I FEEL PRETTY CONFIDENT WE'RE GOING
TO PUSH THAT HYBRIDIZATION PERCENTAGE DOWN TO AROUND ZERO.
IF WE DO THAT, WE PROBABLY CAN SAY
WE'VE SAVED THE GUADALUPE BASS.
>> THE EFFORTS BY HEART OF THE HILLS
FISHERIES SCIENCE CENTER, ARE MAKING A DIFFERENCE.
AND IF DR. GARRETT HAS A SAY IN THE MATTER,
THE GUADALUPE BASS WILL LONG ENDURE AS THE OFFICIAL
STATE FISH OF TEXAS.
(music)
>> BIENVENIDOS AL PARQUE ESTATAL LAGO CASA BLANCA,
WELCOME TO LAKE CASA BLANCA STATE PARK.
>> THE ONLY INTERNATIONAL STATE PARK, LAKE CASA BLANCA
IS SITUATED WITHIN THE CITY LIMITS OF LAREDO,
MINUTES FROM THE BUSTLING BORDER AND RIGHT NEXT TO A
PUBLIC GOLF COURSE.
(golf ball falls in hole)
(waves on shoreline)
>> LAKE CASA BLANCA STATE PARK OFFERS PEOPLE THE
OPPORTUNITY TO COME AND ENJOY A PIECE OF QUIETNESS,
AND ENJOY THE SOUNDS OF NATURE, AND JUST RELAX.
(birds chirping)
WE GET A LOT OF SCHOOL GROUPS THAT COME FOR FIELD TRIPS.
>> WE'VE BEEN COMING HERE FOR ABOUT FOUR YEARS NOW.
(kids laughing and playing)
>> OK LET'S GO!
(duck calls)
>> YOU FINDING ANYTHING?
THE KIDS WHETHER THEY UNDERSTAND OR NOT,
THEY JUST ENJOY IT, THEY COME BACK SAYING
OH WE LEARNED THIS AND WE HAVE THIS.
>> SEE THOSE LINES, THAT'S HOW OLD THAT IS!
>> IT GIVES THEM A LESSON SO HOPEFULLY IT WILL CARRY ON
AFTER THEY LEAVE US.
>> LAKE CASA BLANCA, IT'S A HAVEN FOR THE SNOWBIRDS
OR THE WINTER TEXANS THAT COME OUT EVERY YEAR!
>> THE PARK IS ALSO A HAVEN FOR FOLKS WHO LOVE TO FISH.
>> WE'VE GOT THE FISHING PIER, AND THEN YOU HAVE THE
WHOLE SHORELINE WHERE PEOPLE CAN FISH FROM SO THE
OPPORTUNITY IS THERE.
>> THEY TEND TO PRIMARILY BE BEDDED INSIDE THESE
BULL RUSHES!
>> ALFONSO BENAVIDES IS A LOCAL WHO FISHES THE LAKE AS
OFTEN AS HE CAN, AND GETTING A BITE CAN BE A CHALLENGE!
>> THAT'S WHAT'S SO REWARDING ABOUT CATCHING A FISH HERE,
IT'S JUST EVERYBODY KNOWS THAT IT'S SUCH A TOUGH
LAKE TO FISH.
ONCE YOU CATCH THAT FISH, YOU KNOW THAT
IT'S WELL WORTH IT!
AGH, GOT A NICE ONE HERE ALL RIGHT!
>> SO WHETHER IT'S THE FISHING...
OR THE SIGHTS...
IT'S WORTH A VISIT TO LAKE CASA BLANCA INTERNATIONAL
STATE PARK.
(sea gull calling)
>> THIS AREA IS ALMOST LIKE STEPPING INTO, THROUGH THE
LOOKING GLASS INTO WONDERLAND.
>>HE IS RIGHT HERE!
TEN FEET!
SEE HIM, SEE THAT TAIL?
>> AND IT'S FULL OF DIFFERENT KINDS OF BIRDS AND FISH
AND SEA GRASSES AND BLACK MANGROVES.
>> IT WAS HORRIBLE TO CATCH.
HE NEARLY RUINED MY HAND.
>> IT'S ONE OF THE MOST UNIQUE ECOSYSTEMS ALONG
THE TEXAS GULF COAST.
>> IN THE PAST EIGHT YEARS, TEXAS HAS HAD AN INCREASE OF
OVER 150,000 ANGLERS LICENSED TO FISH IN SALT WATER.
>> GO AGAIN!
>> AND MANY OF THOSE PEOPLE ARE FISHING IN
SHALLOW SALTWATER FLATS.
BUT BIOLOGISTS SEE A TROUBLING TREND.
INEXPERIENCED BOATERS ARE ENDANGERING THIS ENTIRE
ECOSYSTEM BY DESTROYING THE SEA GRASS THAT LIES
JUST BELOW THESE SHALLOW WATERS.
>> IF WE DON'T FIND CREATIVE MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES,
THESE SEA GRASSES WILL DISAPPEAR
AND THE GREAT FISHING WILL DISAPPEAR WITH IT.
THAT'S THE BOTTOM LINE.
(boat motoring)
>> JUST A FEW INCHES BELOW THE SURFACE OF THESE SALTWATER
FLATS GROW BEDS OF SEA GRASS.
THESE GRASSES FORM THE FOUNDATION OF A FOOD CHAIN
THAT SUSTAINS THE ENTIRE BAY, TURNING THE SUN'S ENERGY INTO
FOOD FOR ALL AQUATIC LIFE.
>> THIS IS REALLY TYPICAL OF LIFE IN A SEA GRASS BED
AND DEMONSTRATES ONE OF ITS PRIMARY FUNCTIONS AND ROLES
AS A NURSERY AREA.
IF AH, IF YOU LOOK REALLY CLOSELY RIGHT THROUGH HERE
YOU'LL SEE THERE'S LOTS OF JUVENILE AND BABY SHRIMP,
LOTS OF JUVENILE PIN FISH AND LOTS OF JUVENILE CROAKER.
THEY ARE A FOOD SOURCE FOR A VARIETY OF ORGANISMS
THAT LIVE IN THE BAY.
WE DIDN'T PULL VERY FAR AND YOU CAN SEE HOW MANY
ORGANISMS THAT WE COLLECTED JUST IN THIS SEINE.
>> ANGLERS HAVE TRADITIONALLY MADE THEIR WAY INTO
THE SALTWATER FLATS BY USING LONG POLES.
BUT DURING THE MID-1980'S, A NEW TYPE OF BOAT BEGAN
POPPING UP ALONG THE FLATS.
IT WAS, APPROPRIATELY ENOUGH, CALLED A 'FLATS BOAT'.
AND IT COULD MANEUVER IN WATERS AS SHALLOW AS
SIX TO EIGHT INCHES.
ALMOST OVERNIGHT, FLATS BOATS CREATED AN EASY ACCESS
TO THESE PRIME FISHING AREAS.
>> RUN DEEP.
FISH SHALLOW.
THAT'S THE WAY THE PEOPLE FISHED HERE 50 YEARS AGO.
THEY WOULD RUN IN THE DEEP SLOUGHS AND GET OUT
AND WADE THE SHALLOW FLATS, AND EVERYBODY RESPECTED
THE SHALLOW FLATS UNTIL FLATS BOATS CAME IN.
(boat motor)
>> TODAY, MANY NEW ANGLERS DON'T UNDERSTAND THE
IMPORTANCE OF THE SEA GRASS BEDS NOR HAVE THEY COMPLETELY
MASTERED THEIR BOATS.
GAME WARDEN ALBERT FLORES MONITORS THE TRAFFIC
ON THESE WATERS.
>> MOST WARDENS WILL RECEIVE CALLS ALL HOURS
OF THE DAY OR NIGHT.
SOMEONE IS STUCK IN THE FLATS.
SOMEONE HAS RUN A BOAT AGROUND.
>> THE RESULT IS HABITAT DESTRUCTION.
>> THE DAMAGE BECOMES OBVIOUS ESPECIALLY IN
AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY.
IF YOU GET UP IN A PLANE, YOU SEE THAT THESE FLATS ARE
CRISSCROSSED WITH A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF PROP SCARRING.
>> PROP SCARS CREATE TROUGHS AND DITCHES THAT
CRISSCROSS SEA GRASS BEDS.
THESE SCARS OCCUR WHEN A BOAT PROPELLER SCRAPES THE
BOTTOM OF A SEA GRASS BED, UPROOTING THE GRASS ROOTS
AND SURROUNDING SEDIMENTS.
>> SEE, THERE'S A PROP SCAR WHERE SOMEBODY DIDN'T SLOW DOWN
BEFORE THEY GOT UP TO THIS, THIS SHALLOW AREA,
OR THIS FLAT AREA.
SO IT'S A GREAT FISHING AREA, BUT YOU JUST CAN'T RUN AN
OUTBOARD MOTOR ACROSS IT WHEN THE WATER IS THIS SHALLOW.
>> IT LOOKS LIKE THERE'S GRASS GROWING IN HERE AGAIN BUT MOST
OF IT'S JUST DEAD SEA GRASS, OR MARINE ALGAE OR OTHER
KINDS OF VEGETATION THAT HAVE COLLECTED IN HERE.
>> THE AMOUNT OF TIME REQUIRED FOR A PROP SCAR TO HEAL
IS HIGHLY VARIABLE.
IN THE BEST CASE, A SCAR IN A SANDY SHOAL GRASS
FLAT MAY RECOVER IN A YEAR.
SCARS IN A SOFT BOTTOM CONTAINING TURTLE GRASS
MAY TAKE FROM 2 TO 7 YEARS.
SCARS THAT CHANNEL CURRENT DOWN THEM CAN ERODE DEEPER AND WIDER
AND MAY NEVER RECOVER.
>> NOW WE'VE GOT A GUY THAT WASN'T RAISED ON THE WATER
BUT HE'S GOT MONEY ENOUGH TO BUY A $30,000 FLATS BOAT,
AND NOBODY TOLD HIM HOW TO USE IT.
THEY JUST TOLD HIM IT WILL RUN IN SIX INCHES OF WATER,
SO HE DOES.
AND THAT GUY'S GOT TO BE EDUCATED AND NEEDS TO
LEARN ENOUGH ABOUT FISH AND FISH HABITS TO WHERE HE
DOESN'T JUST BLAST ACROSS EVERY FLAT IN THE AREA
AND RUIN IT FOR EVERYBODY THAT'S DOWN HERE
FOR THE WEEKEND.
>> THIS IS HOW FLATS BOATS ARE POTENTIALLY SO DESTRUCTIVE.
>> WE SAW OUR WATER LINE ON THIS BOAT WAS RIGHT ABOUT HERE,
WHILE WE HAD THE BOAT IN THE WATER.
SO FROM HERE TO THE BOTTOM OF THE BOAT, THAT'S EIGHT INCHES.
NOW IF YOU TILT YOUR ENGINE DOWN SO THAT YOU CAN TAKE OFF,
FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE BOAT TO THE BOTTOM OF THE ENGINE IS
ABOUT ANOTHER 8 INCHES.
FOR THIS BOAT TO FLOAT WITHOUT TOUCHING BOTTOM
WOULD BE OVER 16 INCHES.
YOU KNOW, SEA GRASS IS PROBABLY ABOUT SIX INCHES SO YOU'D WANT
TO BE ABOUT 30 INCHES OFF THE BOTTOM, SO THAT WHENEVER
YOU TAKE OFF AND THE BACK OF THE BOAT SQUATS TO TAKE OFF,
THAT WOULD KEEP YOU ABOVE THE SEA GRASS AND KEEP YOU FROM
CHOPPING UP OR CUTTING UP THE SEA GRASS.
>> OH, YES, NICE REDFISH.
>> AND WITH SO MANY PEOPLE FISHING ON THE FLATS,
EVERY ANGLER MUST BE AS COURTEOUS AS THEY CAN.
USE YOUR MOTOR TO GET TO THE FLATS, BUT NOT
TO GET THROUGH THE FLATS.
WHEN YOU'RE APPROACHING SHALLOW WATER, SHUT DOWN
YOUR ENGINE AND LIFT YOUR MOTOR OUT OF THE WATER.
USE THE WIND TO DRIFT ACROSS THE FLAT.
OR POLE THROUGH THE WATER.
OR USE YOUR TROLLING MOTOR.
THE IDEA IS TO PUSH, POLE OR TROLL UNTIL YOU FIND
A DEPTH OF 30 INCHES.
THAT WAY, YOU'LL PRESERVE THE SEA GRASS AND ALLOW THE
WHOLE ECOSYSTEM TO FLOURISH.
>> WE DON'T WANT TO SEE THIS WONDERFUL RESOURCE
BE PHYSICALLY DEGRADED.
AND WE ALSO DON'T WANT TO DESTROY THE KIND OF EXPERIENCE
THAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR OUT HERE ON THESE FLATS, THAT BEING
ALMOST A WILDERNESS EXPERIENCE.
IT'S AN IMPORTANT THING AND I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD LET IT
GO BY, BY JUST PUTTING OUR HEADS IN THE SAND.
>> TO FURTHER PROTECT SEA GRASS, A REGULATION WENT INTO EFFECT
IN MAY 2006, PROHIBITING THE UPROOTING OF SEA GRASS BY
PROPELLER IN THE REDFISH BAY STATE SCIENTIFIC AREA.
THE AREA IS COMPLETELY OPEN TO ACCESS, AND INFORMATIONAL
SIGNS ARE POSTED AT BOAT RAMPS ALL AROUND THE REDFISH BAY AREA.
>> THESE SIGNS HAVE INFORMATION ABOUT SEA GRASSES,
THEIR IMPORTANCE IN THE ENVIRONMENT AND HOW TO BOAT
SAFELY IN SEA GRASSES.
>> CATCHING THE BIG FISH IS EVERY ANGLER'S DREAM.
>> NICE TROUT.
>> AND THAT DREAM DEPENDS ON EVERY ANGLER KNOWING THEIR
BOAT, UNDERSTANDING THE BAYS, AND HAVING THE SKILL TO
MANEUVER THROUGH THE SHALLOW SEA GRASS FLATS.
>> EACH OF US HAS TO EDUCATE OURSELVES TO BE BETTER ANGLERS,
TO BETTER UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF HABITAT.
AND I THINK THROUGH THAT WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO
PRESERVE THIS RESOURCE, TO CONSERVE IT AND MAKE
SURE THAT IT IS HERE FOR ALL GENERATIONS OF TEXANS
FOR MANY YEARS TO COME.
(water rippling)
(music)
WHEN YOU THINK OF THE SYMBOLS OF TEXAS
YOU MIGHT THINK OF THE ALAMO, OR PERHAPS COWBOYS,
OR MAYBE EVEN YOUR FAVORITE SPORTS TEAM.
BUT WHAT ABOUT THE SYMBOLS THAT TIE US TO OUR NATURAL HERITAGE?
YOU PROBABLY KNOW THE OFFICIAL STATE FLOWER,
BUT DO YOU KNOW WHAT THE OFFICIAL STATE PLANT IS?
EACH SPRING, MOTORISTS PAUSE ALONG
THE ROADWAYS FOR AN ANNUAL TRADITION,
A PICTURE IN THE BLUEBONNETS.
THE TEXAS BLUEBONNET IS THE OFFICIAL STATE FLOWER
AND THANKS TO A PLANTING CAMPAIGN BY THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT
OF TRANSPORTATION, THESE FLOWERS ARE
ALMOST EVERYWHERE.
THE OFFICIAL STATE PLANT IS PERHAPS AS COMMON
BUT CERTAINLY NOT AS CUDDLY.
THE PRICKLY PEAR CACTUS CAN GROW PRACTICALLY ANYWHERE.
THESE HEARTY SUCCULENTS CAN EVEN BE USED FOR CATTLE FEED,
AFTER THE SPINES HAVE BEEN REMOVED.
THIS UNUSUAL CREATURE HAS BEEN EMBRACED AS THE OFFICIAL
SMALL MAMMAL OF TEXAS.
THE NINE BANDED ARMADILLO IS A RELATIVE OF THE ANTEATER.
WHILE MANY FIND THIS DOCILE CREATURE CUTE IN A WAY ONLY
A TEXAN COULD LOVE, THEY CAN DAMAGE GARDENS
AND LANDSCAPES AS THEY ROOT AROUND IN SEARCH OF INSECTS.
IF THE ARMADILLO IS THE OFFICIAL SMALL MAMMAL,
ANY GUESS AS TO THE OFFICIAL FLYING MAMMAL
OF TEXAS?
IT'S THE MEXICAN FREE TAIL BAT.
BATS ARE NOW RECOGNIZED FOR THE WORK THEY DO PROTECTING
CROPS FROM INSECT DAMAGE, AND THEY'VE BECOME POPULAR
SUBJECTS FOR WILDLIFE WATCHERS.
CROWDS NOW GATHER AT POPULAR BAT EMERGENCE SITES FOR
AN AMAZING SUNSET SPECTACLE.
THE STATE INSECT CAN CREATE QUITE A BUZZ AS IT PASSES
THROUGH TEXAS.
UNIQUE IN THE INSECT WORLD, A MONARCH BUTTERFLY'S
MIGRATION IS A MARVEL.
ADULT MONARCHS MIGRATING THROUGH TEXAS FROM MEXICO
IN THE SPRING, REPRODUCE AND DIE BEFORE
THEIR OFFSPRING HEAD BACK TO MEXICO IN THE FALL.
THIS NEW GENERATION COMPLETES A LONG JOURNEY
TO A WINTER ROOSTING SITE THEY HAVE NEVER SEEN.
SO YOU KNOW OUR STATE FLOWER, OUR STATE PLANT,
TWO MAMMALS AND AN INSECT.
BUT DO YOU KNOW OUR STATE BIRD?
HERE'S A HINT.
(bird chirping)
IF YOU GUESSED THE MOCKINGBIRD, YOU WERE RIGHT!
(music)
THIS SERIES IS FUNDED IN PART BY A GRANT
FROM THE WILDLIFE AND SPORT FISH RESTORATION PROGRAM.
THROUGH YOUR PURCHASES OF HUNTING AND FISHING EQUIPMENT,
AND MOTORBOAT FUELS, OVER 40 MILLION DOLLARS IN
CONSERVATION EFFORTS ARE FUNDED IN TEXAS EACH YEAR.
>> ADDITIONAL FUNDING PROVIDED BY RAM TRUCKS.
GUTS. GLORY. RAM.