How Anglers and Boaters How Anglers and Boaters Can Protect Fishing Can Protect Fishing

Good Fish Habitat = Good FishingGood Fish Habitat = Good Fishing

What are the threats?What are the threats?

What can we do?What can we do?

The Threat: Reduced in-stream The Threat: Reduced in-stream flows due to drought and flows due to drought and increased water demand increased water demand

Freshwater inflow is Freshwater inflow is crucial to bay and estuary crucial to bay and estuary systems and the life they systems and the life they sustain. sustain.

In 2001, the Rio In 2001, the Rio Grande failed Grande failed to reach the to reach the Gulf due to Gulf due to drought and drought and overuse. overuse.

Texas’ population Texas’ population is expected to double by is expected to double by mid-century. An increasing mid-century. An increasing demand for water will demand for water will threaten other Texas rivers threaten other Texas rivers with the same fate if nothing with the same fate if nothing is done.is done.

What Can Anglers and Boaters Do?What Can Anglers and Boaters Do? Practice water conservation at home Practice water conservation at home

and work.and work.Remember to:Remember to:

1.1.Run Run appliances like appliances like dishwashers dishwashers only when full.only when full.

2.Use low-flow 2.Use low-flow toilets and toilets and shower heads.shower heads.

3.Cut faucets off 3.Cut faucets off as soon as as soon as possible.possible.

When watering When watering your lawn…your lawn…

• Don’t use a fine mist Don’t use a fine mist sprinkler.sprinkler.

• Don’t water when Don’t water when water is in short water is in short supply.supply.

• Don’t water during the Don’t water during the heat of the dayheat of the day

NEVERNEVER dispose of dispose of cleaners or pesticides in a cleaners or pesticides in a toilet, sink or storm drain.toilet, sink or storm drain.

Use biodegradable Use biodegradable products for products for house and lawn house and lawn care.care.

Become knowledgeable about local water Become knowledgeable about local water issues and support water conservation issues and support water conservation laws.laws.

www.texasthestateofwater.orgwww.texasthestateofwater.org

The Threat: Pollution from urban The Threat: Pollution from urban areas, industry and agricultureareas, industry and agriculture

The Threat: The Threat: Development and Development and poor land poor land management that management that destroy wetland destroy wetland and riparian areasand riparian areas

The Threat: Dams, culverts and The Threat: Dams, culverts and channelization that disrupt natural channelization that disrupt natural stream function and connections stream function and connections between water bodiesbetween water bodies

What Can Anglers and Boaters Do?What Can Anglers and Boaters Do?

• Support strong water Support strong water conservation laws and conservation laws and laws that protect aquatic laws that protect aquatic habitats.habitats.

• Become knowledgeable Become knowledgeable about local water issues.about local water issues.

• Support development Support development practices that protect practices that protect wetlands and riparian wetlands and riparian areas.areas.

The Threat: The Threat: Litter and Litter and

illegal illegal dumpingdumping

What Can Anglers and Boaters Do?What Can Anglers and Boaters Do? Pick up any litter you find when fishing or Pick up any litter you find when fishing or

boating.boating.

Clean up Clean up motor boat motor boat oil or oil or gasoline gasoline spills. Take spills. Take care at the care at the pump.pump.

• Reduce use of non-recyclable items. Reduce use of non-recyclable items.

• Reuse and recycle items when possible.Reuse and recycle items when possible.

• Report illegal dumping.Report illegal dumping.

The Threat: Invasive speciesThe Threat: Invasive species

Giant salvinia (Giant salvinia (Salvinia molestaSalvinia molesta), a floating fern ), a floating fern from southern Brazil, is currently one of the from southern Brazil, is currently one of the most problematic aquatic plants in Texas. most problematic aquatic plants in Texas.

What Can Anglers and Boaters Do?What Can Anglers and Boaters Do?

Learn about aquatic invaders that threaten Learn about aquatic invaders that threaten our rivers, lakes and streams.our rivers, lakes and streams.

www.protectyourwaters.netwww.protectyourwaters.net

Zebra Mussels

Hydrilla

Call a TPWD office if you see Call a TPWD office if you see Giant Salvinia or Zebra Mussels Giant Salvinia or Zebra Mussels and report what you see.and report what you see.

Clean boats, motors and trailers at the Clean boats, motors and trailers at the ramp when exiting the water. Drain ramp when exiting the water. Drain bilges at the water’s edge.bilges at the water’s edge.

Don’tDon’t dump bait buckets and aquariums dump bait buckets and aquariums in waterways.in waterways.

The Threat: Boat The Threat: Boat propellers that propellers that destroy sea destroy sea grass bedsgrass beds

Propeller scars Propeller scars on seagrass on seagrass

bedsbeds

What Can Anglers and Boaters Do?What Can Anglers and Boaters Do?

Observe “no-prop” zones in shallow Observe “no-prop” zones in shallow bays and estuaries.bays and estuaries.

The Threat: Improper dredging The Threat: Improper dredging and sand and gravel miningand sand and gravel mining

What Can Anglers and Boaters Do?What Can Anglers and Boaters Do?

• Be watchful when on the water. Be watchful when on the water. • Report any improper dredging and Report any improper dredging and

sand and gravel mining to local sand and gravel mining to local authorities.authorities.

Purchase Purchase fishing licenses.fishing licenses.

Observe fishing Observe fishing regulations.regulations.

Teach others to Teach others to fish.fish.

Together…anglers and boaters Together…anglers and boaters can make a difference.can make a difference.