Report indicates Texas state parks still suffering following worst drought on record
Friday, January 27, 2012
Carter Smith, The Executive Director of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, told a state legislative committee on Tuesday that together wildfires and drought have caused an estimated $11 million dollars in damage to state parks during 2011. Severe damage was reported to Davis Mountains, Possum Kingdom, and Bastrop state parks.
Mr. Smith stated that in August 2011 alone there was a 25% drop in visitors and noted the loss of nearly 4,000 homes across the state last year due to wildfires. An employee of Tyler State Park told Wikinews on Friday that the park's lake is currently "...about three feet low", but went on to state that staff had recently stocked the lake with freshwater trout. When asked about the park's overall status, the employee stated, "We're doing OK."
In the U.S. Texas ranks lowest in state park funding per capita. Reportedly, the drought has impacted wildlife, with increases of sightings of bears, mountain lions and feral hogs in unusual locales.
Related news
- "Texas wildfires push public resources to the limit" — Wikinews, September 15, 2011
- "At least four dead and hundreds of homes destroyed after week of wildfires rage throughout Texas" — Wikinews, September 9, 2011
- "Drought conditions and high winds lead to wildfires in Texas" — Wikinews, September 7, 2011
- "Freshwater lakes in Texas show signs of extreme drought" — Wikinews, August 29, 2011
- "Texas continues to suffer record-breaking drought" — Wikinews, August 14, 2011
Sister links
- 2010-2012 Southern United States drought on Wikipedia.
Sources
- AP. "Texas state parks suffer as visitors, revenue drop" — The Times Leader, January 25, 2012
- Gary Scharrer. "Drought compounds state parks money woes" — San Antonio Express-News, January 25, 2012