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TPWD Seeks Public Input for the 2024 Land and Water Plan
AUSTIN – The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) is seeking public input to help inform future management directions of the agency. TPWD’s mission is to manage and conserve Texas’ natural and cultural resources and provide hunting, fishing, and outdoor recreation opportunities for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations. The public can voice its input through Friday, April 14, by completing a Texas A&M University online survey.
“In fulfilling our mission, TPWD is committed to delivering effective natural resources stewardship and outdoor recreation programs that exemplify the highest standards of quality, service, and professionalism,” said David Yoskowitz, Ph.D., Executive Director of TPWD. “As the agency looks ahead to the next ten years and plans our work, public input is critically important to ensuring our programs continue to meet the needs of the state and all Texans.”
Survey responses will help inform an update of the Land and Water Resources Conservation and Recreation Plan (Land and Water Plan). The state expects to identify the 2024 Land and Water Plan’s specific strategies and science-based actions to be undertaken by TPWD over the next ten years. It will serve to guide and evaluate the effectiveness of TPWD in delivering its mission.
The Land and Water Plan was initially developed in 2002 and updated in 2005, 2010, 2013, and 2015. In 2021, the 87th Texas Legislature adopted recommendations from the Texas Sunset Advisory Commission that led to changes in the statutory requirements for the Land & Water Plan (Texas Parks & Wildlife Code, § 11.101–106).
The state scheduled an update of the Land and Water Plan that conforms to these new requirements to be completed by 2024. Moving forward, the Land and Water Plan will guide and evaluate the effectiveness of TPWD in conserving Texas’s natural and cultural resources, considered at five-year intervals. The state will update it every ten years in conjunction with the Land & Water Statewide Inventory update.
To support the 2024 Land and Water Plan update, TPWD is partnering with Texas A&M University-College Station to update the Land and Water Statewide Inventory and administer public input surveys.
Input received through this online survey will provide feedback for the 2024 update and be presented to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission for review at their August meeting.
The state will publicly share the 2024 Land and Water Plan draft for review and feedback. A final version incorporating additional guidance from the Commission and the state will present the public input to the Commission for final approval at the November meeting.