CCA Texas Funds New Game Warden Outpost

Donation marks $700,000 contributed to Texas Parks and Wildlife Department through the last five years.

Coastal Conservation Association Texas (CCA Texas) recently pledged funding for the construction of an enforcement outpost for use by Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Game Wardens in the Lower Laguna Madre. The floating cabin will act as a new front-line for wardens enforcing game and safety laws and providing for public safety along the desolate stretches of water in south Texas.

"This cabin will provide wardens with a valuable command center while they are protecting not only Texas' natural resources, but the outdoor enthusiast who enjoy them," said CCA Texas Executive Director Robby Byers. "CCA Texas has a rich history of supporting our wardens and providing tools that otherwise might not be available to them. These officers need our support in the difficult and often hazardous jobs they perform. The cabin will make the Lower Laguna Madre a better and safer place for us all."

The "anchor site" for the houseboat will be just south of the Land Cut in Kennedy County and will provide a central location for wardens to patrol Willacy, Kleberg, and Cameron counties where the Lower Laguna Madre is located. Currently, wardens have to travel many miles and use tremendous amounts of fuel to reach their remote patrolling areas.

"The proposed site is in a very isolated area of the Lower Laguna Madre and patrol duties are hampered by the distance and gasoline required to travel by game wardens in patrol boats," said Capt. Gary Palmer, TPWD Region 10 game warden . "By being able to utilize a floating cabin in this location, game wardens will be allowed to spend extended periods of time patrolling, providing public safety, search-and-rescue operations, and will increase the amount of time wardens will have to provide public awareness of their presence in these waters."

The construction of the facility will be executed by TPWD game wardens and mechanics using materials purchased with the funds contributed by CCA Texas. The goal is to have the facility operational by April of 2009.

"This enforcement center has been needed for a long time," said Mark Ray, chairman of CCA Texas. "Rather than facing a long and costly trip over waters that are often dangerous, wardens will now be much closer to the resources and the people they protect."

CCA Texas Members and Volunteers Continue Growth

CCA Texas Executive Board recently approved the addition of three new local chapters to the Texas State Chapter. New chapters include the Hays County Chapter centered in Dripping Springs, the Guadalupe Valley Chapter centered in Cuero and the Orange Chapter located in Orange. These chapters are now up and running and are planning fall fundraising and membership events. Hays County has scheduled October 16, 2009 for its first event, Orange has scheduled October 23, 2009 and Guadalupe Valley is scheduled for November 13, 2009. If you are interested in becoming involved in one of these new chapters, please contact CCA Texas at 713.626.4222.

CCA Texas is a non-profit marine conservation organization dedicated to the conservation of Texas' marine resources. For more information please visit www.ccatexas.org.