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Robinson's Lodge 376 Toledo Lodge Rd. Shelbyville, TX. 75973 |
Newsletter
Recently Robinson’s Lodge hosted a meeting to discuss the possibilities of improvements to the wildlife viewing sites nominated to the TPW “Great Texas Wildlife Trails”. In particular the “Prairies and Pineywoods Trail”. The “Great Texas Wildlife Trails” are designed to make it easy for travelers to find the best wildlife-viewing sites throughout the state. They bring tourism dollars to rural communities, raise awareness about Texas wildlife and habitats, provide recreational opportunity, build public support for conservation, and provide economic incentives for landowners and communities to conserve and manage habitats for wildlife and wildlife enthusiasts. In January of this year, the Texas Transportation Commission approved $770,880 in federal TEA-21 grant funding for the Prairies and Pineywoods Wildlife Trail. TPW has already received over 100 site nominations for the Trail and will continue to seek nominations for several more months. TPW will be working with communities to raise the nonfederal match of $192,720 needed to complete the Trail. In attendance were representatives of the proposed sites, and concerned citizens of Shelby County. These sites included East Hamilton, Ragtown, Haley’s Ferry, Boles Field, North Toledo Bend Wildlife Management Area, Huxley Bay Marina, and Robinson’s Lodge. Representatives in attendance were Linda Campbell TPW Nature Tourism Director, Dr. Greg Clary Texas Cooperative Extension, Catherine Albers Recreation program Mgr. USFS, Tem Morrison Morrison Insurance Agency, Gerald Mackey Texas State Bank (Joaquin), J.E.“Yazoo” Thomas Texas State DU Regional Director, Rick L. Campbell General Shelters and DU, Pam Phelps Executive Director Shelby County Chamber of Commerce, Stacy Vandrovec Huxley Bay Marina, Cliff Todd Texas Dept. of Agriculture, Marcus Beard District Ranger Sabine Nat. Forest, Todd Johnson Biologist Sabine Nat. Forest, Stephen Dougherty Director of Parks and Recreation Sabine River Authority, Bill Bartush Biologist Ducks Unlimited, Chay Rees Texas Forest Trail Region, Paula and Mark Robinson Robinson’s Lodge. Linda Campbell opened the discussion with a definition of “Wildlife Trail”. A description of what the trail is intended to do and its significance to the state and local communities. Mrs. Campbell spoke about existing birding trails in Texas and their impact on economic development and conservation for the communities involved. Linda then answered questions from the group about the trail, and the seven sites to be nominated from Shelby County. Questions about the proposed sites, and if our nominated sites meet the criteria for the Wildlife Trail. What are the Possibilities of making improvements needed to the sites, to make them user friendly, therefore making them more attractive to the public. Concerns of support, the community can expect from the SRA, TPW, and USFS, was addressed. The answerers to which were promising, at least to the extent that it is a good possibility, and not a closed subject. At the conclusion of the discussion an automobile tour of the proposed sites, was taken by Linda Campbell and others attending. I feel that positive steps were taken to open and improve communications among all concerned parties. Hopefully this is a step in the direction of improvement for Nature Tourism, Rural economic development, and the Conservation of Natural Resources for Shelby County, Texas, and all of America. Ultimately, nature tourism leads to conservation by encouraging landowners and communities to conserve habitats, providing wildlife viewers greater opportunity, and inviting people to experience for themselves the abundant natural resources of Texas. We want more and more people to engage in the enjoyment of nature, thereby gaining greater appreciation and understanding of the importance of conserving wildlife and their habitats for present and future generations.
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