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Native Plant Society of Texas

Once again state park funding is at risk

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State park funding looked to be secure in 2015 after legislation was passed designating 94% of the sporting goods tax to fund the operation of all 103 state parks and historical sites in Texas. But it turns out it was not so secure after all.

This article by the Texas Tribune has the particulars.

Contact information for legislators.

George Bristol, former chair of the Texas State Parks Advisory Committee, said the fact that the same measure passed last session was “a pretty good indication” that people in Texas backed the measure.

Unfortunately, House Bill 78 did not meet the deadline to be brought to a vote. The legislature has once again chosen to divert the sporting goods tax funds to cover other expenses not related to parks. Although the opportunity has passed to permanently fix the funding in this legislative session, it’s not too late to fully fund Texas parks for the next two years. The parks department is facing a $100 million shortfall.

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**ARCHIVED POST AUTHOR: Bill Hopkins

About the Region

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This low-elevations region of Texas extends inland from the barrier islands, about 60 or so miles, and stretches from Brownsville to Louisiana. In total, it covers about 9.5 million acres, with a high point of 150 feet in elevation. More than 1000 species of plants can be found in this region. On the southern end, species more common in Mexico (such as Sabal mexicana) and Central America occur.

The barrier islands provide us with dune systems, and clay flats to the inland side, which have species found in these areas alone. Many plants here, such as Ipomoea pes-caprae (beach morning glory), can be found throughout tropical regions of the globe. I’ve encountered the same species on the beaches of Guam.

Once inland, vast marshes and wet prairies occur. Occasionally, oak (Quercus fusiformis) groves can be found. Common grasses include species of Bothriochloa, Paspalum, and Sporobolus; eastern gamagrass (Tripsacum dactyloides); and switchgrass (Panicum species). Many rivers and creeks cut through the Gulf Prairies, and along these riparian areas various species of trees, Sabal minor, and other plants adapted to clay soils can be found. Due to overgrazing, farming, and fire suppression, woody species such as mesquite (Prosopis glandulosa) and huisache (Acacia farnesiana), and invasive species such as chinaberry (Melia azedarach), Brazilian pepper (Schinus terebinthifolius), and Chinese tallow (Sapium sebiferum) have increased and displaced our native flora.

Source: Wildflowers of Texas by Michael Eason