Gary P. Garrett

Managing for quality sport fishing is becoming more difficult as natural resources dwindle. This trend also creates additional problems with endangered species. Benefits accrued from land and water conservation programs pay dividends to both. Texas Parks and Wildlife Department has embarked upon an aggressive approach to resolving species and habitat conflicts through cooperative programs with local governments and especially private landowners. To date, 1) a “natural” cienega for two endangered fishes has been recreated, 2) a Conservation Agreement has been enacted to enable private...

High selenium levels and changes in abundance and size distribution of fishes were discovered after reports of fish dying in Martin Creek Reservoir, Texas. The reservoir functions as a cooling source for a coal-fueled power plant owned by Texas Utilities Generating Co. Analyses of fish muscle tissue by the Texas Department of Health showed selenium concentrations ranging from 2.0 to 9.1 mg/kg. Cove rotenone sampling by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department indicated biomass of fishes, except common carp, Cyprinus carpio, was reduced 72%. Relative biomass of trophic groups was altered...

In Texas, freshwater fishes recognized as State Threatened or Endangered (STE) receive special attention when Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) consults with other agencies on projects that have the potential to alter freshwater systems. Regulatory oversight by TPWD of scientific and zoological collections, fish stockings, commercial fishing, disturbances to state-owned streambeds, and exotic species management must also ensure that no adverse impacts occur to STE freshwater fishes. Furthermore, STE species are prioritized by TPWD for voluntary-based investments in research,...