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The agency maintains its headquarters at 4200 Smith School Road in [[Austin, Texas|Austin]].<ref>"[http://tpwd.state.tx.us/business/about/headquarters/directions/ Directions to TPWD Headquarters]." Texas Parks & Wildlife Department. Accessed August 28, 2008.</ref><ref>"[http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/business/about/headquarters/directions/#tpwd_hq Directions to TPWD Headquarters]." Texas Parks & Wildlife Department. Retrieved on July 6, 2010.</ref><ref>"[http://coagis1.ci.austin.tx.us/website/COAViewer_dev/viewer.htm City of Austin Development Map Viewer]." [[Austin, Texas|City of Austin]]. Accessed August 28, 2008.</ref>
The agency maintains its headquarters at 4200 Smith School Road in [[Austin, Texas|Austin]].<ref>"[http://tpwd.state.tx.us/business/about/headquarters/directions/ Directions to TPWD Headquarters]." Texas Parks & Wildlife Department. Accessed August 28, 2008.</ref><ref>"[http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/business/about/headquarters/directions/#tpwd_hq Directions to TPWD Headquarters]." Texas Parks & Wildlife Department. Retrieved on July 6, 2010.</ref><ref>"[http://coagis1.ci.austin.tx.us/website/COAViewer_dev/viewer.htm City of Austin Development Map Viewer]." [[Austin, Texas|City of Austin]]. Accessed August 28, 2008.</ref>



==History==
==History==
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The department operates 114 state parks/historical sites, 51 wildlife management areas, eight fish hatcheries, and numerous field offices statewide.
The department operates 114 state parks/historical sites, 51 wildlife management areas, eight fish hatcheries, and numerous field offices statewide.
On January 1, 2008, several historic sites formerly maintained by TPWD were transferred to the [[Texas Historical Commission]].
On January 1, 2008, several historic sites formerly maintained by TPWD were transferred to the [[Texas Historical Commission]].



==Employees==
==Employees==
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Game wardens undergo a 30 week course at TPWD's Texas Game Warden Training Center in rural [[Hamilton County, Texas]].<ref>http://tpwd.texas.gov/warden/recruiting-careers/career</ref>
Game wardens undergo a 30 week course at TPWD's Texas Game Warden Training Center in rural [[Hamilton County, Texas]].<ref>http://tpwd.texas.gov/warden/recruiting-careers/career</ref>



===Game Warden Ranks===
===Game Warden Ranks===
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|-
|}
|}



==Organization==
==Organization==
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TPWD operates 93 [[List of Texas state parks|parks]] and 140 offices across the state of [[Texas]].
TPWD operates 93 [[List of Texas state parks|parks]] and 140 offices across the state of [[Texas]].



==Magazine==
==Magazine==
TPWD publishes a monthly magazine available both in print and online, known as ''TPW Magazine''.<ref>http://www.tpwmagazine.com/</ref> The magazine features articles about wildlife, State Parks, fishing, hunting, and outdoor activities.
TPWD publishes a monthly magazine available both in print and online, known as ''Texas Parks and Wildlife''. The magazine features articles about wildlife, fishing, hunting, camping, birding, boating, state parks, traveling, and environmental issues.''Texas Parks and Wildlife'' magazine has been in publication since 1942.<ref>http://www.tpwmagazine.com/about/</ref>


⚫
==Deceased officers==


==Television Series==
''Texas Parks & Wildlife'' is a weekly, half-hour program airing on Texas PBS stations, as well as a number of other public television stations around the country. The series is streamed on PBS and the TPWD YouTube channel.

Originally titled ''Made in Texas'', the program began production in 1985 as a magazine style show, with three or four different segments each week. For a few years the show focused on one topic each week, documentary style. In 1991 the name of the show changed to ''Texas Parks & Wildlife'' and reverted to its original magazine format.<ref>http://tpwd.texas.gov/newsmedia/tv/tvabout.phtml</ref>


==Radio Spots==
''Passport to Texas'' is a daily series broadcast on radio stations around Texas, as well as available as downloadable podcasts. These minute and a half radio spots focus on topics, including wildlife, state parks, and outdoor activities.<ref>https://passporttotexas.org/</ref>


==Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation==
Founded in 1991, Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation is the nonprofit funding partner of TPWD. Overseen by a board of trustees and administered by full- and part-time staff members, the foundation has raised over $100 million since its inception to ensure all Texans can enjoy, explore, and be inspired by the incredible wild things and wild places in Texas.<ref>http://www.tpwf.org/who-we-are/about-us/</ref>


⚫
==Deceased officers==
Since the establishment of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Law Enforcement Division, 18 officers have died in the line of duty, including officers from the Texas Game and Fish Commission and the Texas Game, Fish, and Oyster Commission, which merged into the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.<ref>[http://odmp.org/agency/3824-texas-parks-and-wildlife-department---law-enforcement-division-texas Officer Down Memorial Page, TPWD Law Enforcement Division]</ref><ref>[http://odmp.org/agency/4911-texas-game-and-fish-commission-texas Officer Down Memorial Page, Texas Game and Fish Commission]</ref><ref>[http://odmp.org/agency/4910-texas-game,-fish,-and-oyster-commission-texas Officer Down Memorial Page, Texas Game, Fish, and Oyster Commission]</ref>
Since the establishment of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Law Enforcement Division, 18 officers have died in the line of duty, including officers from the Texas Game and Fish Commission and the Texas Game, Fish, and Oyster Commission, which merged into the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.<ref>[http://odmp.org/agency/3824-texas-parks-and-wildlife-department---law-enforcement-division-texas Officer Down Memorial Page, TPWD Law Enforcement Division]</ref><ref>[http://odmp.org/agency/4911-texas-game-and-fish-commission-texas Officer Down Memorial Page, Texas Game and Fish Commission]</ref><ref>[http://odmp.org/agency/4910-texas-game,-fish,-and-oyster-commission-texas Officer Down Memorial Page, Texas Game, Fish, and Oyster Commission]</ref>
* [[Justin Hurst]]
* [[Justin Hurst]]



==See also==
==See also==
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* [[List of Texas state parks]]
* [[List of Texas state parks]]
* [[Texas State Railroad]]
* [[Texas State Railroad]]



==References==
==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{Reflist}}



==External links==
==External links==
* [http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us Texas Parks & Wildlife Department website]
* [http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us Texas Parks & Wildlife Department website]
* [http://www.tpwmagazine.com/ ''Texas Parks & Wildlife'' magazine]
* [http://www.tpwmagazine.com/ ''Texas Parks & Wildlife'' magazine]
* [http://passporttotexas.org/ Passport to Texas website]
* [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwdtpZyZGJoHXnT4Rm2xEgQ Texas Parks & Wildlife YouTube channel]
* [http://www.tpwf.org/ Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation website]
{{State agencies of Texas}}
{{State agencies of Texas}}
{{Texas}}
{{Texas}}

Revision as of 02:08, 6 March 2016

Official Texas Parks and Wildlife Department logo
The headquarters of the department
A sign indicating the direction of the headquarters

The Texas Parks & Wildlife Department (TPWD) is a Texas state agency that oversees and protects wildlife and their habitats. In addition, the agency is responsible for managing the state's parks and historical areas. Its mission is to manage and conserve the natural and cultural resources of Texas and to provide hunting, fishing and outdoor recreation opportunities for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.

The agency maintains its headquarters at 4200 Smith School Road in Austin.[1][2][3]


History

In 1895, the Texas Legislature created the Fish and Oyster Commission to regulate fishing. The Legislature added the Game Department to the commission in 1907. The Legislature created the State Parks Board as a separate entity in 1923. In 1963, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department was formed through merger of the State Parks Board and the Game and Fish Commission.[4][5]

In 1983, the Texas legislature passed the Wildlife Conservation Act, giving the department the authority for managing fish and wildlife resources in all Texas counties.[5] The department operates 114 state parks/historical sites, 51 wildlife management areas, eight fish hatcheries, and numerous field offices statewide. On January 1, 2008, several historic sites formerly maintained by TPWD were transferred to the Texas Historical Commission.


Employees

The agency employs more than 3,500 permanent employees, and 300 interns every summer, from every field of study. Intern programs vary but are typically 12 weeks long and go from May until August.[6]

Game wardens undergo a 30 week course at TPWD's Texas Game Warden Training Center in rural Hamilton County, Texas.[7]


Game Warden Ranks

Title Insignia
Colonel
Lieutenant Colonel
Chief Of Special Operations
Asst. Chief
Major
Captain
Lieutenant
Sergeant
Game Warden
N/A


Organization

Boats & Licenses Building in Austin

The department is made up of eleven divisions:

  • Wildlife
  • Coastal Fisheries
  • Inland Fisheries
  • Law Enforcement - Game wardens and deputy game wardens primarily enforce the provisions of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Code but are fully empowered peace officers with statewide jurisdiction and may make arrests for any offense.[8]
  • State Parks
  • Infrastructure
  • Legal
  • Administrative Resources
  • Communications
  • Human Resources
  • Information Technology

TPWD operates 93 parks and 140 offices across the state of Texas.


Magazine

TPWD publishes a monthly magazine available both in print and online, known as Texas Parks and Wildlife. The magazine features articles about wildlife, fishing, hunting, camping, birding, boating, state parks, traveling, and environmental issues.Texas Parks and Wildlife magazine has been in publication since 1942.[9]


Television Series

Texas Parks & Wildlife is a weekly, half-hour program airing on Texas PBS stations, as well as a number of other public television stations around the country. The series is streamed on PBS and the TPWD YouTube channel.

Originally titled Made in Texas, the program began production in 1985 as a magazine style show, with three or four different segments each week. For a few years the show focused on one topic each week, documentary style. In 1991 the name of the show changed to Texas Parks & Wildlife and reverted to its original magazine format.[10]


Radio Spots

Passport to Texas is a daily series broadcast on radio stations around Texas, as well as available as downloadable podcasts. These minute and a half radio spots focus on topics, including wildlife, state parks, and outdoor activities.[11]


Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation

Founded in 1991, Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation is the nonprofit funding partner of TPWD. Overseen by a board of trustees and administered by full- and part-time staff members, the foundation has raised over $100 million since its inception to ensure all Texans can enjoy, explore, and be inspired by the incredible wild things and wild places in Texas.[12]


Deceased officers

Since the establishment of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Law Enforcement Division, 18 officers have died in the line of duty, including officers from the Texas Game and Fish Commission and the Texas Game, Fish, and Oyster Commission, which merged into the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.[13][14][15]


See also


References

  1. ^ "Directions to TPWD Headquarters." Texas Parks & Wildlife Department. Accessed August 28, 2008.
  2. ^ "Directions to TPWD Headquarters." Texas Parks & Wildlife Department. Retrieved on July 6, 2010.
  3. ^ "City of Austin Development Map Viewer." City of Austin. Accessed August 28, 2008.
  4. ^ "TPWD Activities and History". Accessed 26-Dec-2014
  5. ^ a b Smyri, Vivian Elizabeth "Texas Parks and Wildlife Department". The Handbook of Texas Online. Published by the Texas State Historical Association. Accessed 26-Dec-2014 Cite error: The named reference "tsha" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  6. ^ "TPWD Activities and History". Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. 2006-04-26. Retrieved 2006-09-11.
  7. ^ http://tpwd.texas.gov/warden/recruiting-careers/career
  8. ^ Texas Parks and Wildlife Code, Section 11.019.
  9. ^ http://www.tpwmagazine.com/about/
  10. ^ http://tpwd.texas.gov/newsmedia/tv/tvabout.phtml
  11. ^ https://passporttotexas.org/
  12. ^ http://www.tpwf.org/who-we-are/about-us/
  13. ^ Officer Down Memorial Page, TPWD Law Enforcement Division
  14. ^ Officer Down Memorial Page, Texas Game and Fish Commission
  15. ^ Officer Down Memorial Page, Texas Game, Fish, and Oyster Commission


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