Records Appraisal Report:
Parks and Wildlife Department Additional Series Reviews

Contents of this report
Agency Contact | Record Series Reviews

Internal links to series reviews
Financial records
Rules and Regulations
Job application files
Project files - Environmental assessment correspondence
Texas Sesquicentennial San Jacinto SHS Celebration
Financial records of the Texas State Parks Board and the Texas Game, Fish and Oyster Commission
Report and supporting documentation regarding compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and other Civil Rights issues
Administrative correspondence files, Region 7
Communications Division director's correspondence
Building construction project files of former park properties
State fish hatcheries files
Game warden files
Wetland Conservation Program grant application files
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department library design and operation files

Related reports
1999 Appraisal report
2000 Revised series reviews

Archival finding aid
An Inventory of Parks and Wildlife Department Records at the Texas State Archives, 1905-2004, bulk 1963-2004

October 11, 2002, Laura Saegert, Appraisal Archivist

Agency Contact

Agency contact information for each series was current at the time of the report but may have changed in the interim. Please call (512-463-5455) for current contact information of the agency's records manager or records liaison for these records.

Record Series Reviews

Records Series Review
Series Title: Financial records

Contact: Melissa Laneman, Records Management Assistant

Obsolete record series? Yes

Ongoing record series? No

Agency holdings:
None.

Description:
There are two series of old financial records being reviewed, one is old journals or registers of the State Parks Board, dating 1936-1967, comprising 2 cubic ft. The other records are monthly expense statements of the Game, Fish and Oyster Commission for the years 1945-1957, comprising one cubic ft. of records. Each series is described separately.

State Parks Board registers, 1936-1967, 2 cubic ft.
These are daily records of expenditures of the State Parks Board, dating 1936-1967. They list the date of the voucher, whom it was paid to, service, amount, fund it came out of and sometimes park it affected. The agency differentiates between expenditures from the Special Parks Fund and those from the General Revenue Fund. The earliest volumes, called journals by the agency (1930s-early 1940s) also have ledger pages in the back (after the daily expenditure pages) with debit/credit columns. I reviewed the registers and then asked Tony how they compared to journals/registers in the Comptroller's finding aid. First of all, we do not have anything in the Comptroller records quite comparable to these, both in content and in dates. Tony has a description of warrant registers in the Comptroller finding aid he said typifies these records. "A warrant register is a journal which documents the day-to-day authorization of the expenditure of money for the purposes of state government; as such, it is the principal accounting record of original entry. The information given by the various columns in each register varies over time...."

I also reviewed the published annual reports of the State Parks Board. The early reports are not very legible on some pages; being reduced photostats of the printed reports, listed in a note as being on file at the State Parks Board. There is summary information given on appropriations and expenditures, both for the agency overall, and by basic categories for each park (wages, utilities, oil and gas, auto expenses, supplies, maintenance and repairs, etc.). The reports list expenses from the State Parks Fund separately from the General Revenue Fund, as do the registers.

Game, Fish and Oyster Commission, monthly expense statements, 1945-1957, 1 cubic ft.
The other box contains financial and comparative statements of the Game, Fish and Oyster Commission, 1945-1957. These are monthly statements of expenses, broken down by types of expense, such as Boat operation costs, Medina Lake Fund expense statements, Special Game and Fish expense statements, Fish hatchery operating costs, etc. We have similar monthly reports in the Prison Board records. As part of this review I also reviewed annual reports of the commission and found detailed records of expenses, both overall for the agency and by division.

Purpose:
The registers document daily expenditures of the State Parks Board for a 32-year period. The monthly statements provide summary monthly expenditures statements of the Game Fish and Oyster Commission for a 13-year period.

Agency Program:
The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) had its beginnings in 1879. In 1879, the 16th Legislature authorized the Governor to appoint a fish commissioner to ensure compliance with an Act for the preservation of fish, and to build fish ways and fish ladders (Chapter 92, 16th Legislature, Regular Session). In 1881, the Office of the Fish Commissioner was established (Chapter 78, 17th Legislature, Regular Session). It was created for the "propagation and preservation of fish and to build fish-ways and fish-ladders…" existing through 1885. The Governor, with the approval of the Senate appointed the commissioner to a two-year term.

In 1895, the Office of the Fish and Oyster Commissioner was created by House Bill 55, 24th Legislature, Regular Session, with the commissioner appointed by the Governor as before. The duties included the protection of fish, turtles and terrapin of the bays and coastal waters of the state, protection of natural oyster beds and reefs, and the protection of the location of private beds. The Commissioner had the authority to appoint Deputy Commissioners to assist in carrying out the duties of the office. In 1907, protection of wild birds and wild game was added to the responsibilities of that office, which became the Office of the Game, Fish and Oyster Commissioner (House Bill 379, 30th Legislature, Regular Session). This Commissioner appointed Deputy Game Commissioners to assist in carrying out the duties of the office.

The single commissioner was replaced by a six-member commission in 1929 and the agency became the Game, Fish, and Oyster Commission (Senate Bill 83, 41st Legislature, Regular Session). The commissioners were appointed to six-year terms by the Governor with the approval of the Senate, and were to be selected from different sections of the state. The Governor appointed the chair. Duties of the commission included administering the state's laws relating to game and fish; preventing pollution of streams; issuing hunting, trapping, and fishing licenses; collecting fees, taxes, and fines; conducting research; and proclaiming and enforcing open seasons and bag limits on game and fish. The commission also operated fish hatcheries and sanctuaries, administered game and hunting preserves, supervised oyster beds in the state, controlled and exterminated predatory animals and fish, and educated the public in the preservation of wildlife and fish and game resources of the state. It had the authority to create rules and regulations as necessary to carry out their duties.

The State Parks Board was created in 1923 (Senate Bill 73, 38th Legislature, First Called Session) to investigate prospective park sites in the state and report to the Legislature with recommendations, and to solicit and accept donations of land for state park purposes. The State Parks Board was initially composed of five members, appointed by the Governor with the approval of the Senate to six-year terms, and they were to be state officers. The number of board members increased to six in 1937 (Senate Bill 484, 45th Legislature, Regular Session). This board was to begin locating sites for the establishment of the state parks system. It also directed and managed state parks created except the historical parks which were managed by the Board of Control and/or several separate commissions. The Parks Board was also charged with locating, designating, and marking historic grounds, battlegrounds, and other historic sites in the state, and erecting markers and monuments at such sites. The board also had the authority to create rules and regulations as necessary to carry out its duties. The primary function of the board between 1923-1933 was to acquire lands for parks through donations. In 1933, federal funds became available for state park development and the board worked with the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) and the National Park Service for the development of better park sites for a state parks system. The CCC provided labor during the 1930s to improve state park lands and facilities. In 1949, the state historical parks were transferred to the State Parks Board, except for the San Jacinto Battlefield, the Battleship Texas, and the Fannin Battlefield, which were still controlled by their respective commissions--the San Jacinto Battlefield Commission, the Battleship Texas Commission, and the Fannin Battlefield Commission (House Bill 120, 51st Legislature, Regular Session). Jurisdiction over the Fannin and San Jacinto Battlefields was transferred to TPWD in 1965 (House Bill 102, 59th Legislature, Regular Session). Battleship Texas was transferred to TPWD in 1983 (House Bill 586, 68th Legislature, Regular Session).

In 1963, the State Parks Board and the Game and Fish Commission were merged to form the Texas Department of Parks and Wildlife (House Bill 21, 58th Legislature, Regular Session). In 1967, the Historic Structures and Sites Act was passed by the 60th Legislature, House Bill 58, Regular Session, charging the Parks and Wildlife Department with stewardship of the state's cultural heritage sites. In 1983, the Legislature passed the 1983 Wildlife Conservation Act (Senate Bill 94, 68th Legislature, Regular Session), which gave the agency the authority to manage fish and wildlife resources in all Texas counties. Prior to this act county commissioner courts set game and fish laws in many counties, and other counties had veto power over Department regulations. In 1985, the legislature granted the agency authority over shrimp and oysters (Senate Bill 609, 69th Legislature, Regular Session).

The Parks and Wildlife Department is governed by the Parks and Wildlife Commission, initially composed of three members, currently nine members, appointed by the Governor with approval of the Senate. Members serve six-year overlapping terms. The Commission chairperson is appointed biennially by the Governor. The Commission meets quarterly or more often as needed. Its chief responsibility is to adopt policies and rules to carry out the programs of the Parks and Wildlife Department.

The Parks and Wildlife Department is responsible for the management and conservation of the state's wildlife and fish resources; provision of outdoor recreational opportunities to the public; acquisition, development, and operation of wildlife management areas, fish hatcheries, state parks, historic sites, and other public lands; conservation education and outreach; cultural and historical interpretation; and the regulation of fishing, hunting, and boating activities. The Department is composed of ten major divisions which carry out the functions and duties of the agency: Wildlife, State Parks, Coastal Fisheries, Inland Fisheries, Resource Protection, Communications, Law Enforcement, Infrastructure, Administrative Resources, and Human Resources. An Executive Director, selected by the Parks and Wildlife Commission, administers the department. In early 1999, the agency employed the full-time equivalent of 2,954 people.

Arrangement:
Chronological.

Access constraints: None

Use constraints: None

Indexes or finding aids required for/or an aid to access? None

Problems: None

Known related records in other agencies: None

Previous destructions:
Routine financial records, including some of these types of records, are destroyed in accordance with the retention schedule. Prior to having an approved schedule, destruction requests were submitted (and approved) to destroy "financial records" or "routine financial records," "appropriations ledgers," etc., the requests dating between 1986-1994.

Publications based on records:
These publications incorporate summary financial information taken from the records into the descriptive annual report of the agency.
State Parks Board, Annual Report
Game, Fish and Oyster Commission, Annual Report.

Internet pages based on records: None

Series data from agency schedule:
Series unknown.

Archival holdings: None

Related archival holdings:
State Parks Board, Annual Report - 1939-1962
Game, Fish and Oyster Commission, Annual report, 1880-1962 (with a few gaps) (this includes reports of Office of the Fish Commissioner (1880-1885), Office of the Fish and Oyster Commissioner (1895-1906), Game, Fish and Oyster Commissioner (1907-1928), and Game, Fish and Oyster Commission (1929-1962))

Texas Documents Collection holdings: Related holdings:
State Parks Board, Annual Report - none
Game, Fish and Oyster Commission, Annual report, 1931-1962
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, Annual report, 1963-2001

Gaps: No records after 1967.

Appraisal decision:
State Parks Board registers
These are daily records of expenditures of the State Parks Board. In order to have a more thorough review of the records; I also examined the published annual reports of the State Parks Board. The early reports are not very legible on some pages; being reduced photostats of the printed reports, listed in a note as being on file at the State Parks Board. There is summary information given on appropriations and expenditures, both for the agency overall, and by basic categories for each. The reports list expenses from the State Parks Fund separately from the General Revenue Fund, as do the registers. This is not the level of detail you find in a daily journal, but it's adequate documentation of the agency's fiscal management. I can see some research value in having a daily record of expenditures, especially in the early years of the agency (1930s-1940s).

I asked Tony for his opinion because he is more familiar with the types of early accounting records maintained by the state than I am. As you can expect, he feels we should keep these records. I can see his point, but I do not see where we have kept this type of information in the past. Perhaps that is because we haven't received these types of records in the past, or, as Carolyn said recently, once an agency's records are audited, this type of information is not kept. I can see some research value in documenting in detail what the Parks Bd. spent their money on, esp. in the early accounting records, but you can get summary information from the annual reports. How important is it to track this level of detail for this agency? I can go either way on these registers. If I had to choose, I'd keep them because they cover a 32-year period, starting with the first year of the agency's operation, and I find that the one copy of the published reports we have in the agency to be partially illegible.

Game, Fish and Oyster Commission
The monthly statements provide a summary for the month of expenses from various accounts and for various programs. As part of the review process I also examined the annual reports of the commission and found detailed records of expenses, both overall for the agency and by division. I consider the bound reports to be sufficient documentation of agency expenditures. I recommend we do not keep the box of monthly statements.

Note: On October 11, 2002, both series of records were appraisal by the State Archivist and appraisal staff as non-archival. We determined that final audits and the agency's annual reports are sufficient documentation of fiscal operations. Final audits and the agency's annual reports are sufficient documentation of fiscal operations.

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Appraised by Laura K. Saegert, August 10, 2004

Records Series Review
Series Title: Rules and Regulations

Contact: Peggy Kunze, Records Manager

Ongoing record series? Yes
Annual accumulation: less than one cubic ft.

Agency holdings:
unknown

Description:
The records are changes made to the agency's administrative rules and emergency declarations, dating 1988-1990, 1994. Files include text of the notice or change to the agency rules, a copy of the submission form to the Texas Register, phone memoranda, and in the files for 1994, letters submitted by the general public opposed or supporting the change. The letters are filed separated and are arranged by topic. Some of the letters are to the division, some to the commission, some are forwarded from legislators, and there are some form letters submitted as part of public hearing comments. Changes generally dealt with law enforcement and hunting or fishing proclamations, such as changes to the start or length of fishing or hunting seasons, bag limits on certain types of fish or wildlife, etc. All items were published in the Texas Register. The files for 1994 are changes submitted by the Law Enforcement Division, the files for 1988-1990 cover both wildlife and fisheries issues, with a few re: law enforcement. Files comprise 2.5 cubic ft. (0.5 cubic ft. are the letters from 1994).

Purpose: Rules and regulations set out the rules, policies and procedures that govern an agency's programs, services or projects.

Arrangement: Chronological

Access constraints: None

Use constraints: None

Indexes or finding aids required for/or an aid to access? None transferred with the agency; indexes to the Texas Register can be used to locate these items in their published form.

Problems: None known

Known related records in other agencies: none known

Publications based on records: Texas Register and Statutes, Secretary of State's Office

Series data from agency schedule: (one or both of these series)
Title: Agency rules, policies, and procedures
Series item number: 1.1.025
Agency item number: 1.1.025
Archival code: E
Retention: US+3

Title: Texas Register submissions
Series item number: 1.1.026
Agency item number: 1.1.026
Archival code: none
Retention: AC+1

Gaps: in the group of records transferred, gap between 1991-1993

Appraisal Decision:
According to our appraisal manual, "If the rules and regulations are a publication or published (for instance, in the Texas Register), they are not archival. Appraisal of rules and regulations as an archival series requires that they codify the agency's policies and that they are not published." These rule changes, declarations, proclamations do codify/change agencies rules, regulations, and policies, but, they were all published in the Texas Register according to submission forms filed with the documents. The Secretary of State maintains the original copy of such transmissions. These records have been appraised as not archival, they can be offered back to the agency or otherwise destroyed. They have all met their retention period.

In regards to the bound sets of letters/public hearing comments accompanying the submissions in 1994. Letters were directed to the division, executive office or commissioners, it is unclear whose files they are since there are not any outgoing replies, but these files may have been maintained by the executive office (the TPWD records staff did not know what exactly these files were or who sent them); I have seen similar things in other agency's records and the records of the governor and legislators, but I did not see correspondence of this nature in the correspondence of the executive office (1995-1996), and correspondence files of the divisions are not considered to be archival. I do not see much value in these files although many of the letters are actually directed to the executive office or the commission, and they do reflect concerns of the public in 1994. However, they only reflect comments on a few proposed rule changes or temporary orders, not on ongoing policies and programs of the division. We do not have any correspondence of the executive office prior to 1997 or between 1985 and 1995, but I cannot support keeping this small bit of correspondence just to cover a gap. These letters are considered part of the rules and regulations records and are thus appraised to be non-archival.

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Review by Laura K. Saegert, January 10, 2005

Records Series Review
Series Title: Job application files, 1939-1942, 0.4 cubic ft.

Received in accession 1996/102, currently in box 22

Agency: Texas State Parks Board

Contact: Melissa Laneman, Assistant Records Manager

Description:
Files consist of job application forms and correspondence, dating 1939-1942. Correspondence includes incoming letters to the State Parks Board either requesting an application form, inquiring about positions at specific parks or at the main headquarters, giving references and/or qualifications of the potential applicant; incoming letters to the board from references about specific applicants; and outgoing letters from the board to applicants acknowledging receipt of the letter/application usually including a brief statement about the position of interest and whether or not there were any vacancies. There is one miscellaneous folder followed by folders for each state park.

Agency program:
The State Parks Board was created in 1923 (Senate Bill 73, 38th Legislature, First Called Session) to investigate prospective park sites in the state and report to the Legislature with recommendations, and to solicit and accept donations of land for state park purposes. The State Parks Board was initially composed of five members, appointed by the Governor with the approval of the Senate to six-year terms, and they were to be state officers. The number of board members increased to six in 1937 (Senate Bill 484, 45th Legislature, Regular Session). This board was to begin locating sites for the establishment of the state parks system. It also directed and managed state parks created, except the historical parks that were managed by the Board of Control and/or several separate commissions. The Parks Board was also charged with locating, designating, and marking historic grounds, battlegrounds, and other historic sites in the state, and erecting markers and monuments at such sites. The board also had the authority to create rules and regulations as necessary to carry out its duties.

The primary function of the board between 1923-1933 was to acquire lands for parks through donations. In 1933, federal funds became available for state park development and the board worked with the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) and the National Park Service for the development of better park sites for a state parks system. The CCC provided labor during the 1930s to improve state park lands and facilities. In 1949, the state historical parks were transferred to the State Parks Board, except for the San Jacinto Battlefield, the Battleship Texas, and the Fannin Battlefield, which were still controlled by their respective commissions--the San Jacinto Battlefield Commission, the Battleship Texas Commission, and the Fannin Battlefield Commission (House Bill 120, 51st Legislature, Regular Session).

In 1963, the State Parks Board and the Game and Fish Commission were merged to form the Texas Department of Parks and Wildlife (TPWD) (House Bill 21, 58th Legislature, Regular Session).

Arrangement: Files are arranged in reverse chronological order.

Access constraints: None.

Series data from agency schedule:
Title: Applications for employment - not hired
Series item number: 3.1.001
Agency item number: 3.1.001
Archival code: none
Retention: FE+2

Appraisal Decision
Personnel files are non-archival as a general rule. The period covered is just after the depression and we keep application files in the records of the various governors to reflect the signs of the times, among other things, but there is no reason to keep these since we have similar records in the governor's files from that time period. These files have been appraised to be non archival and have been discarded. They have long fulfilled their retention period.

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Review by Laura K. Saegert, June 28, 2005

Records Series Review
Series Title: Project files - Environmental assessment correspondence

Agency: Texas Parks and Wildlife Dept., Wildlife Division

Contact: Melissa Laneman, Assistant Records Manager

Obsolete record series? No

Ongoing record series? Yes
Annual accumulation: a few inches

Agency holdings:
Less than 5 cubic ft.

Description:
Files consist of reading copies of the outgoing preliminary environmental assessment reviews by staff of the Texas Parks and Wildlife's Wildlife Division in a correspondence format, dating 1999-2000. The reviews are prepared by the Environmental Review Coordinator of the Wildlife Habitat Assessment program (previously the Wildlife Diversity program) part of the Non-Game program of the Division, in response to a request about potential construction projects. The reviews were sent to state agencies, environmental firms or the U.S. Army. The letters from 1999 were prepared by the Wildlife Diversity program and mention the area being reviewed but do not always list the possible species impacted. The letters refer to attached lists of species or other attachments that are not present in the files. The letters give recommendations for further studies or give contact information for state or federal agencies/biologists to get more information about the impact the construction will have on the threatened or endangered species in the area. The letters from 2000 were prepared by the Wildlife Habitat Assessment Program and do list the species being impacted and also refer to attachments that accompanied the original letter but are not present in these files. They also provide the same type of recommendations for further studies and contacts. In some cases these reviews constitute the only reviews done for a particular project. TPWD will do further study if requested, but does not routinely do follow-up assessments for each project. The TPWD relies on its internal database, the Biological and Conservation Data System (BCD), to provide the list of endangered or threatened species in an area. According to TPWD this system includes less than a representative inventory of rare resources in many areas of the state, which means the full possible impact to an area may not be completely known, based on these assessments. The assessments do suggest the report recipients (state agencies, etc.) follow-up the TPWD review with an on-site evaluation of its own experts, TPWD biologists, or U.S. Fish and Wildlife biologists. The project files of the Wildlife Division contain the complete correspondence file with the attachments and other records that document the environmental assessment function of the agency.

Agency program:
The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) had its beginnings in 1879. In 1879, the 16th Texas Legislature authorized the Governor to appoint a fish commissioner to ensure compliance with an Act for the preservation of fish, and to build fish ways and fish ladders (Chapter 92, 16th Legislature, Regular Session). In 1881, the Office of the Fish Commissioner was established (Chapter 78, 17th Legislature, Regular Session). It was created for the "propagation and preservation of fish and to build fish-ways and fish-ladders…," existing through 1885. The commissioner was appointed to a two-year term by the Governor, with the approval of the Senate.

The single commissioner was replaced by a six-member commission in 1929 and the agency became the Game, Fish, and Oyster Commission (Senate Bill 83, 41st Legislature, Regular Session). The commissioners were appointed to six-year terms by the Governor with the approval of the Senate, and were to be selected from different sections of the state. The chair was appointed by the Governor. Duties of the commission included administering the state's laws relating to game and fish; preventing pollution of streams; issuing hunting, trapping, and fishing licenses; collecting fees, taxes, and fines; conducting research; and proclaiming and enforcing open seasons and bag limits on game and fish. The commission also operated fish hatcheries and sanctuaries, administered game and hunting preserves, supervised oyster beds in the state, controlled and exterminated predatory animals and fish, and educated the public in the preservation of wildlife and fish and game resources of the state. It had the authority to create rules and regulations as necessary to carry out its duties.

In 1963, the State Parks Board and the Game and Fish Commission were merged to form the Texas Department of Parks and Wildlife (House Bill 21, 58th Legislature, Regular Session). In 1967, the historic Structures and Sites Act was passed by the 60th Legislature, House Bill 58, Regular Session, charging the Parks and Wildlife Department with stewardship of the state's cultural heritage sites. In 1983, the Legislature passed the 1983 Wildlife Conservation Act (Senate Bill 94, 68th Legislature, Regular Session), which gave the agency the authority to manage fish and wildlife resources in all Texas counties. Prior to this act county commissioner courts set game and fish laws in many counties, and other counties had veto power over Department regulations. In 1985, the legislature granted the agency authority over shrimp and oysters (Senate Bill 609, 69th Legislature, Regular Session).

The Parks and Wildlife Department is responsible for the management and conservation of the state's wildlife and fish resources; provision of outdoor recreational opportunities to the public; acquisition, development, and operation of wildlife management areas, fish hatcheries, state parks, historic sites, and other public lands; conservation education and outreach; cultural and historical interpretation; and the regulation of fishing, hunting, and boating activities. The Department is composed of nine major divisions which carry out the functions and duties of the agency: Wildlife, State Parks, Coastal Fisheries, Inland Fisheries, Communications, Law Enforcement, Infrastructure, Administrative Resources, and Human Resources. An Executive Director, selected by the Parks and Wildlife Commission, administers the department.

The Wildlife Division manages and conserves all the state's wildlife resources. Its responsibilities include wildlife planning; research; inventorying wildlife resources; monitoring population dynamics; regulating game seasons and bag limits; conserving non-game and rare species; habitat conservation and acquisition; providing technical assistance to land owners; operating and managing 52 wildlife management areas; and assisting with the management of 123 state parks. The division also uses state-owned and operated lands to conduct wildlife research, field tours, seminars, wildlife management operations, and offer public access to these lands for public hunting and other recreational and education uses. Most of the work done by the division is eligible for reimbursement under the Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Act of 1937, also known as the Pittman-Robertson Act.

Purpose:
These are preliminary assessments prepared by Texas Parks and Wildlife staff in response to a request about a potential construction project. Further studies are done on request.

Arrangement:
The files sent are arranged in reverse chronological order by the date of the review.

Access constraints: None.

Use constraints None

Known related records in other agencies:
Some areas may have also received reviews by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Series data from agency schedule:
Title: Project/Program files (Wildlife Division) (only a set of the correspondence is being reviewed)
Series item number: 1.1
Agency item number: 1.1.TPW2.F
Archival code: A
Retention: AC + 5

Appraisal Decision
After several talks with TPWD staff it was determined that the files in question are the reading files of outgoing preliminary assessments by TPWD staff in correspondence format from the environmental assessment project files. The official outgoing letters remain with the incoming letters and attachments in the project files. The preliminary assessments do provide information about the impact construction or similar projects will have on threatened or endangered species. The files list the area under consideration and the letters from 2000 do list the species threatened, when applicable. This information does have value if no further studies are conducted on the area. However, based on these records, we do not know what further studies were done which would supplant the information contained in these assessments. While the letters do not contain the incoming letter requesting the review, the assessment review request is stated in the outgoing letter by TPWD. The letters from 1999 are less useful because most of the letters do not list the species impacted by the proposed construction project, only note a list is attached. The attachments are not present.

While some assessments do provide useful information about the species (flora or fauna) threatened by construction projects, the fuller reports in most, if not all, cases exist at TPWD with their biologists (in the project files). According to staff in the Wildlife Diversity section, the biologists need to keep the fuller reports and project files with them for reference purposes. TPWD staff was only willing to transfer the reading copy of the assessment correspondence at this time. I do not know when these project files (an archival series) will be transferred, but they should eventually come to the Archives. We have received some projects files in the past few years from the Wildlife Division, but none from this particular series (environmental assessments). The fuller reports and associated materials in the project files are the records to maintain to document the environmental assessment function of TPWD so the Archives has decided not maintain this set of environmental assessment correspondence. If the division wants to retain its project files for longer than AC+5, then they need to lengthen their storage of the records to AC+10 or longer.

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Review by Laura K. Saegert, June 17, 2005

Records Series Review
Series Title: Texas Sesquicentennial San Jacinto SHS Celebration

Agency: Texas Parks and Wildlife Dept., Historic Interpretation Branch

Contact: Melissa Laneman, Assistant Records Manager

Obsolete record series? Yes

Ongoing record series? No

Agency holdings: 8 cubic ft.

Description:
Files document the Texas Parks and Wildlife's sesquicentennial celebration of the 1836 victory by the Republic of Texas at San Jacinto during the Texas Sesquicentennial. Records include correspondence, meeting notes and files, memos, agenda, reports, planning files, programs, posters, invitations, schedules of events, pamphlets, brochures for specific events of the celebration, fact sheets, news releases, speeches, media folders, photographs, lists of participants, clippings, work plans and schedules, and budget materials. The event occurred in 1986, records date in the mid 1980s. While the Historic Interpretation Branch did a lot of the work for the celebration, many other TPWD departments were involved. The files document all of the planning activities, the actual events of the celebration, and contain publications produced for the event.

Agency program:
The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) had its beginnings in 1879. In 1879, the 16th Texas Legislature authorized the Governor to appoint a fish commissioner to ensure compliance with an Act for the preservation of fish, and to build fish ways and fish ladders (Chapter 92, 16th Legislature, Regular Session). In 1881, the Office of the Fish Commissioner was established (Chapter 78, 17th Legislature, Regular Session). It was created for the "propagation and preservation of fish and to build fish-ways and fish-ladders…," existing through 1885. The commissioner was appointed to a two year term by the Governor, with the approval of the Senate.

The single commissioner was replaced by a six-member commission in 1929 and the agency became the Game, Fish, and Oyster Commission (Senate Bill 83, 41st Legislature, Regular Session). The commissioners were appointed to six-year terms by the Governor with the approval of the Senate, and were to be selected from different sections of the state. The chair was appointed by the Governor. Duties of the commission included administering the state's laws relating to game and fish; preventing pollution of streams; issuing hunting, trapping, and fishing licenses; collecting fees, taxes, and fines; conducting research; and proclaiming and enforcing open seasons and bag limits on game and fish. The commission also operated fish hatcheries and sanctuaries, administered game and hunting preserves, supervised oyster beds in the state, controlled and exterminated predatory animals and fish, and educated the public in the preservation of wildlife and fish and game resources of the state. It had the authority to create rules and regulations as necessary to carry out its duties.

The State Parks Board was created in 1923 (Senate Bill 73, 38th Legislature, First Called Session) to investigate prospective park sites in the state and report to the Legislature with recommendations, and to solicit and accept donations of land for state park purposes. The State Parks Board was initially composed of five members, appointed by the Governor with the approval of the Senate to six year terms, and they were to be state officers. The number of board members increased to six in 1937 Senate Bill 484, 45th Legislature, Regular Session). This board was to begin locating sites for the establishment of the state parks system. It also directed and managed state parks created, except the historical parks which were managed by the Board of Control and/or several separate commissions. The Parks Board was also charged with locating, designating, and marking historic grounds, battlegrounds, and other historic sites in the state, and erecting markers and monuments at such sites. The board also had the authority to create rules and regulations as necessary to carry out its duties. The primary function of the board between 1923-1933 was to acquire lands for parks through donations. In 1933, federal funds became available for state park development and the board worked with the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) and the National Park Service for the development of better park sites for a state parks system. The CCC provided labor during the 1930s to improve state park lands and facilities. In 1949, the state historical parks were transferred to the State Parks Board, except for the San Jacinto Battlefield, the Battleship Texas, and the Fannin Battlefield, which were still controlled by their respective commissions--the San Jacinto Battlefield Commission, the Battleship Texas Commission, and the Fannin Battlefield Commission (House Bill 120, 51st Legislature, Regular Session). Jurisdiction over the Fannin and San Jacinto Battlefields was transferred to TPWD in 1965 (House Bill 102, 59th Legislature, Regular Session). Battleship Texas was transferred to TPWD in 1983 (House Bill 586, 68th Legislature, Regular Session).

In 1963, the State Parks Board and the Game and Fish Commission were merged to form the Texas Department of Parks and Wildlife (House Bill 21, 58th Legislature, Regular Session). In 1967, the historic Structures and Sites Act was passed by the 60th Legislature, House Bill 58, Regular Session, charging the Parks and Wildlife Department with stewardship of the state's cultural heritage sites. In 1983, the Legislature passed the 1983 Wildlife Conservation Act (Senate Bill 94, 68th Legislature, Regular Session), which gave the agency the authority to manage fish and wildlife resources in all Texas counties. Prior to this act county commissioner courts set game and fish laws in many counties, and other counties had veto power over Department regulations. In 1985, the legislature granted the agency authority over shrimp and oysters (Senate Bill 609, 69th Legislature, Regular Session).

The Parks and Wildlife Department is responsible for the management and conservation of the state's wildlife and fish resources; provision of outdoor recreational opportunities to the public; acquisition, development, and operation of wildlife management areas, fish hatcheries, state parks, historic sites, and other public lands; conservation education and outreach; cultural and historical interpretation; and the regulation of fishing, hunting, and boating activities. The Department is composed of nine major divisions which carry out the functions and duties of the agency: Wildlife, State Parks, Coastal Fisheries, Inland Fisheries, Communications, Law Enforcement, Infrastructure, Administrative Resources, and Human Resources. An Executive Director, selected by the Parks and Wildlife Commission, administers the department. In early 1999, the agency employed the full-time equivalent of 2,954 people.

Purpose:
To celebrate the victory at the San Jacinto battle as part of the official Texas Sesquicentennial celebration in 1986.

Arrangement: By type of material

Access constraints: None known.

Use constraints None

Known related records in other agencies: None.

Series data from agency schedule:
Title: Texas Sesquicentennial San Jacinto SHS Celebration
Series item number: 1.1
Agency item number: 1.1.TPW.2 (H - Other)
Archival code: A
Retention: AC+5

Appraisal Decision
These files thoroughly document the San Jacinto Battleground sesquicentennial celebration. According to TPWD staff, this was a big event for the agency at the time, kind of a precursor to the TPWD Expo that currently runs each year. The files do concern a very historic battle in Texas history and should have some minimal documentation. We can accept the records and retain certain of the files, including minutes, planning records, administrative correspondence and memos, speeches, programs, brochures, an invitation, schedule of events, and photographs. These files are scattered throughout the boxes (8 cubic ft.) so we would need to retain all the boxes to get the full selection of significant records. The remainder of the will be offered back to TPWD or discarded if TPWD does not want them.

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Laura Saegert, Appraisal Archivist, June 6, 2006

Records Series Review
Series Title: Financial records of the Texas State Parks Board and the Texas Game, Fish and Oyster Commission

Agency: Texas Parks and Wildlife Department

Contact: Melissa Laneman, Records Management Assistant

Agency holdings:
None.

Description:
There are five series of old financial records being reviewed: ledgers of receipts and expenditures, payroll records, and warrants of the Texas State Parks Board; records of disbursements and an audit report concerning the Game, Fish and Oyster Commission.

State Parks Board records.
Receipts and expenditures - Files consist of ledgers of receipts and expenditures at various state parks, about 1948-about 1961. Expenditures are listed first and have categories for wages, supplies, tools, gas, electricity, acquisition (building equipment, machinery), telephone, repairs, laundry, etc. Receipts follow and have categories for admissions; deposits; sales (postcards, etchings, etc.); food; cabin, campsite, boats, boathouse storage or other rentals; bait; swimming; golf course fees; etc. I examined ledgers for Cleburne State Park (1948-1950), Possum Kingdom State Park (1948-1950), Varner Hogg State Park (1958-1961), Inks Lake State Park (1956-1959) and Daingerfield State Park (1958-1960). In addition to these ledgers, there is a box of similar volumes, listing receipts as above, and for expenditures, listing the checks or vouchers paid out giving the name of payee, amount, and the purchase (candy, labor, food, laundry, supplies, etc.) This second set of ledgers dates about 1941-about 1956. In this group, I examined ledgers for Cleburne State Park (1948), Bonham State Park (1941-1947) and Lockhart State Park (1954-1956 - only covered expenses of the golf course at Lockhart). There are 5 boxes of oversize ledgers in this series.

Payroll records - Three small ledgers of monthly payroll records listing the name of employee, hours worked, and amount paid. Entries are listed by year, then by month, and date 1953-1945. There are also some loose monthly payrolls tri-folded in their wrappers, dating in the 1940s and 1950s. The loose files do not provide complete coverage of these years, they are scattered.

Warrants - Several inches of warrants, still tri-folded in their wrappers. The warrants were issued for payment of employee expense accounts and travel expenses and for purchase of supplies and equipment. The loose payrolls described above are filed with these warrants. Dates of the warrants range from 1939 to 1963, the bulk from the 1940s and 1950s.

Game, Fish and Oyster Commission
Record of disbursements
This is a single ledger that lists disbursements (expenditures) - to whom paid, on what account paid, voucher number, warrant number, and amount approved. The volume covers 1913-1915 and pertains to expenses at the State Fish Hatchery at Dallas.

Audit report
This is an original (typed and signed) audit report by a private company contracted by the Texas State Auditor to devise and install a system of accounts and records for the Game, Fish and Oyster Commission. The report lists the types of records to keep and instructions on recordkeeping for records and accounting processes. The report is dated 1932 and was prepared by the T.B. Trotter Company of Austin.

Purpose:
The registers document monthly expenditures of the State Parks Board at individual state parks for a 13-year period. Payrolls document monthly wages of Parks Board staff for three years and several scattered months over a 10-12 year period. The warrants document payment of a few expenses of the Parks Board over a 20-year period. The record of disbursements provides a summary of monthly expenditures of the Game Fish and Oyster Commission at a specific state fish hatchery for a three-year period. The audit report recommends procedures for the Game, Fish and Oyster Commission to follow for its accounting and recordkeeping needs.

Agency program:
The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department is responsible for the management and conservation of the state's wildlife and fish resources; provision of outdoor recreational opportunities to the public; acquisition, development, and operation of wildlife management areas, fish hatcheries, state parks, historic sites, and other public lands; conservation education and outreach; cultural and historical interpretation; and the regulation of fishing, hunting, and boating activities. The Department is composed of ten major divisions which carry out the functions and duties of the agency: Wildlife, State Parks, Coastal Fisheries, Inland Fisheries, Communications, Law Enforcement, Infrastructure, Administrative Resources, Legal, Information Technology, and Human Resources. An Executive Director, selected by the Parks and Wildlife Commission, administers the department. In 2005, the agency employed the full-time equivalent of 3,038 people.

The Parks and Wildlife Department is governed by the Parks and Wildlife Commission, initially composed of three members, increased to six members in 1972, and as of 1983, nine members, appointed by the Governor with approval of the Senate. Members serve six-year overlapping terms. The Commission chairperson is appointed biennially by the Governor. The Commission meets quarterly or more often as needed. Its chief responsibility is to adopt policies and rules to carry out the programs of the Parks and Wildlife Department.

The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) had its beginnings in 1879 when the 16th Texas Legislature authorized the Governor to appoint a fish commissioner to ensure compliance with an Act for the preservation of fish, and to build fish ways and fish ladders (Chapter 92, 16th Legislature, Regular Session). In 1881, the Office of the Fish Commissioner was established (Chapter 78, 17th Legislature, Regular Session). It was created for the "propagation and preservation of fish and to build fish-ways and fish-ladders;" and existed through 1885. The commissioner was appointed to a two-year term by the Governor, with the approval of the Senate.

The single commissioner was replaced by a six-member commission in 1929 and the agency became the Game, Fish, and Oyster Commission (Senate Bill 83, 41st Legislature, Regular Session). The commissioners were appointed to six-year terms by the Governor with the approval of the Senate, and were selected from different sections of the state. The chair was appointed by the Governor. Duties of the commission included administering the state's laws relating to game and fish; preventing pollution of streams; issuing hunting, trapping, and fishing licenses; collecting fees, taxes, and fines; conducting research; and proclaiming and enforcing open seasons and bag limits on game and fish. The commission also operated fish hatcheries and sanctuaries, administered game and hunting preserves, supervised oyster beds in the state, controlled and exterminated predatory animals and fish, and educated the public in the preservation of wildlife and fish and game resources of the state. It had the authority to create rules and regulations as necessary to carry out its duties. The name was changed to the Texas Game and Fish Commission in 1951 and the size of the board was increased to nine members (Senate Bill 463, 52nd Legislature, Regular Session).

The Texas State Parks Board was created in 1923 (Senate Bill 73, 38th Legislature, First Called Session) to investigate prospective park sites in the state and report to the Legislature with recommendations, and to solicit and accept donations of land for state park purposes. The State Parks Board was initially composed of five members, appointed by the Governor with the approval of the Senate to six-year terms, and they were to be state officers. The number of board members increased to six in 1937 (Senate Bill 484, 45th Legislature, Regular Session). This board was to begin locating sites for the establishment of the state parks system. It directed and managed state parks created, except the historical parks, which were managed by the Board of Control, and/or several separate commissions. The Parks Board was charged with locating, designating, and marking historic grounds, battlegrounds, and other historic sites in the state, and erecting markers and monuments at such sites. The board also had the authority to create rules and regulations as necessary to carry out its duties. The primary function of the board between 1923 and 1933 was to acquire lands for parks through donations. In 1933, federal funds became available for state park development and the board worked with the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) and the National Park Service for the development of better park sites for a state parks system. The CCC provided labor during the 1930s to improve state park lands and facilities. In 1949, the state historical parks were transferred to the State Parks Board, except for the San Jacinto Battlefield, the Battleship Texas, and the Fannin Battlefield, which were still controlled by their respective commissions--the San Jacinto Battlefield Commission, the Battleship Texas Commission, and the Fannin Battlefield Commission (House Bill 120, 51st Legislature, Regular Session). Jurisdiction over the Fannin and San Jacinto Battlefields was transferred to TPWD in 1965 (House Bill 102, 59th Legislature, Regular Session). Battleship Texas was transferred to TPWD in 1983 (House Bill 586, 68th Legislature, Regular Session).

Arrangement:
State Parks Board records.
Receipts and expenditures - Each ledger covers one park. Entries within the ledgers are by year, then by month. For each month expenditures are listed first followed by the receipts. Payrolls are arranged by year then month. Warrants are unarranged.

Game, Fish and Oyster Commission
Entries within the record of disbursements ledger are by year then month. The audit report is a single item.

Access constraints: None.

Use constraints: None

Indexes or finding aids required for/or an aid to access? None

Problems: None

Known related records in other agencies: None

Publications based on records:
These publications incorporate summary financial information taken from the records into the descriptive annual report of the agency.
Texas State Parks Board, Annual Report
Texas Game, Fish and Oyster Commission, Annual Report.
Texas Game and Fish Commission, Annual Report.

Series data from agency schedule: specific series are unknown

Related archival holdings:
Texas State Parks Board, Annual Report - 1939-1962
Texas Game and Fish Commission, Annual report, 1880-1962 (with a few gaps) (this includes reports of Office of the Fish Commissioner (1880-1885); Office of the Fish and Oyster Commissioner (1895-1906); Game, Fish and Oyster Commissioner (1907-1928); Game, Fish and Oyster Commission (1929-1950); and Game and Fish Commission (1951-1962))

Texas Documents Collection holdings: Related holdings:
Texas State Parks Board, Annual Report - none
Texas Game, Fish and Oyster Commission, Annual report, 1931-1950
Texas Game and Fish Commission, Annual report, 1951-1962
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, Annual report, 1963-2004

Appraisal Decision
State Parks Board records
I previously examined the published annual reports of the State Parks Board for an earlier appraisal report on other financial records of the Board. The early reports are not very legible on some pages; being reduced photostats of the printed reports, listed in a note as being on file at the State Parks Board. There is summary information given on appropriations and expenditures, both for the agency overall, and by basic categories for each. The reports list expenses from the State Parks Fund separately from the General Revenue Fund, as do the registers. This is not the level of detail you find in a daily or monthly ledger, but it's adequate documentation of the agency's fiscal management. In 2005 the State Archives appraised the daily expenditure records (1936-1967) of the State Parks Board as not archival, finding that the final audits and the agency's annual reports are sufficient documentation of fiscal operations. I feel this decision stands for the monthly receipts and expenditures records, the payrolls, and the warrants. We do not need monthly documentation of such routine fiscal activities.

Game, Fish and Oyster Commission
The record of disbursements provides a summary for the month of expenses of the State Fish Hatchery at Dallas for a brief period (1913-1915). The audit report is an instructional guide for the agency to use for its accounting needs. I previously examined the annual reports of the commission and found detailed records of expenses, both overall for the agency and by division. I consider the annual reports to be sufficient documentation of agency expenditures. We do not need to keep the record of disbursements. I see the audit report as an interesting item, but not of archival value. We do not know if the agency followed the recommendations of this firm for its accounting and recordkeeping practices and whether they did or not is irrelevant in providing sufficient value to keep this report.

Note: Both sets of files were appraised by State Archives appraisal staff as non-archival and the agency was told they could be discarded on June 9, 2006.

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Laura Saegert, Appraisal Archivist, October 6, 2006

Records Series Review
Series Title: Report and supporting documentation regarding compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and other Civil Rights issues

Agency: Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, Executive Office

Contact: Melissa Laneman, Records Management Assistant

Agency holdings:
Files being reviewed comprise about 2 cubic ft. and date 1992, 1997-2000.

Description:
The files consist of correspondence, memos, drafts, reports, planning records, and in internal report prepared by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) for the federal government regarding the compliance of its facilities with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and overall civil rights issues. Dates covered are 1992, 1997-2000. The bulk of the materials concern ADA compliance following a few complaints by the general public to the United States Dept. of the Interior. According to TPWD staff, the agency had to change the way it did things at some parks to become ADA compliant and the report is an exhaustive study of the agency's functions and responses to become ADA compliant, as much as it could within the confines of its mission. Correspondence is present between the agency and the complainants, the agency and the Dept. of the Interior, and the agency and an advocacy group it worked with to address ADA issues, Advocacy, Inc. The agency began significant efforts towards ADA compliance in 1992, developing an initial transition plan to retrofit some of its facilities. In conjunction with that plan the department did a physical survey of all their public facilities, about 240 areas, and retrofitted selected facilities are part of a pilot project that provided cost estimates for retrofitting all of their sites. An ADA discrimination compliant was filed against the agency in 1997, leading the U. S. Dept. of the Interior to require the agency to address the issues and submit a transition plan by October 31, 1997. TPWD asked for and was granted an extension. In early 1998 another ADA discrimination complaint was filed against the agency and they were again asked to file a transition plan and self-evaluation report, by September 30, 1998. In that report the department informed the federal government what improvements they had undertaken, but stated they could not retrofit all of their facilities by the requested deadline because of undue financial burden. The agency planned to hold a statewide videoconference in the spring of 1998 with remote locations in the state for disabled patrons to communicate accessibility needs and priorities (unable to determine if that actually occurred). The department also set up a Volunteer Disabled Park Visitors Task Force to assist in setting priorities for the transition plan.

In early 2000 the Dept. of the Interior requested a comprehensive Civil Rights review of the agency. TPWD prepared a report in March 2000. This report is an in-depth look at the agency in 2000. Components of the report were a descriptive organization chart; list of all members appointed to advisory boards or planning bodies associated with TPWD; an inventory of educational activities; description of programs offered to the public; sample of publications available re: benefits and services; description of methods for pubic to file complaints; costs and criteria for licenses and permits offered; description of the recruitment and selection process for education instructors; list of qualified instructors available for hunting and aquatic education classes; location of education classes and how they are advertised; description of procedures to handle alleged discrimination complaints; copies of agreements with vendors and contractors; description of outreach activities; list of minority and disability organizations with whom TPWD conducts outreach and have formed partnerships; a comprehensive analysis of waste disposal policies and emissions of toxic wastes and the impact of such policies and activities on minority and low income neighborhoods; copies of several environmental impact studies (Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center, A. E. Wood State Fish Hatchery, a study for a coastal fisheries grant, and a characterization of Texas wild-rice habitat); and transition plan materials (did not have a copy of the transition plan itself). The transition plan section had a list of projects completed, those underway and those funded for ADA compliance retrofits and it had the assessment surveys for ADA compliance done by the agency of all of its facilities in 2000. A letter in May 2000 from the Dept. of the Interior noted the agency was in ADA compliance.

Purpose:
These files document the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department's issues with the federal government in making all of its parks and facilities compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the department's compliance with civil rights legislation.

Arrangement:
Support documents are arranged by topic or record type, report is arranged by volume.

Access constraints:
I found one internal memo marked confidential - attorney client privilege. If these files are appraised as archival, then we need to find out from the agency if that memo or any other materials not marked as such are confidential. The series is listed as open on the retention schedule.

Use constraints: None

Indexes or finding aids required for/or an aid to access? None

Problems: None

Known related records in other agencies: None

Previous destructions:
None known.

Publications based on records:
None.

Series data from agency schedule: (agency lists all files reviews as part of the Reports and studies series - supporting documents could also be from administrative correspondence and planning series)
Title: Reports and studies (other)
Series item number: 1.1.067
Agency item number: 1.1.067 H
Archival code: A
Retention: AC + 5

Related archival holdings:
None.

Appraisal Decision:
This is an interesting review on tasks undertaken by a large and multi-tasked agency to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act and civil rights legislation. The files provide some documentation of the process. There is the plan from 1992 (though not the facility surveys), the receipt of and responses to the complaints, some planning work in 1997-1998 is documented, cumulating in the massive report done in 2000 for the federal government on civil rights and the ADA. There is some value in these materials, especially in some sections of the report, which is very detailed regarding functions, objectives, and activities of the agency in 2000. While the facility surveys are interesting, they are not necessary, especially since these are follow-up surveys done in 2000 and do not include the initial surveys in 1992. According to the records management staff this is an important internal report and was not published nor submitted to the Clearinghouse. I checked our catalog and did not find it listed. This is not a lot of material and I could go either way, but because this was a major issue at the agency and was more difficult to implement there because of the variety of facilities and activity areas involved, I recommend we keep these files.

These files were appraised as archival and will be retained by the State Archives.

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Laura Saegert, Appraisal Archivist, October 9, 2006

Records Series Review
Series Title: Administrative correspondence files, Region 7

Agency: Texas Parks and Wildlife Department

Contact: Melissa Laneman, Records Management Assistant

Agency holdings:
Files being reviewed comprise about 1 cubic ft., dating 1972-1982, 1994, bulk 1982-1980.

Description:
Files consist of administrative correspondence and internal memoranda of the Regional Office in Kerrville - Region 7, of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. Dates covered are 1972-1982, 1994, bulk 1982-1980. Files consist of internal memoranda, incoming and outgoing correspondence, reports, minutes of advisory boards and committees, an Attorney General opinion, maps, deeds, easements, resolutions, photographs, and a teacher's guide for a historic park. Files are generally copies of memos and letters, with incoming materials stamped "Received, Regional Park Headquarters, Kerrville." Many of the items have attached routing slips that often contain notes. Correspondents include the National Park Service, the San Antonio Missions Advisory Committee, the San Antonio Conservation Society, local landowners, and local companies. Topics include state and federal collaboration and transfer of ownership to the National Park Service of the San Jose Mission, environmental assessments, activities of advisory boards and committees, a proposed archaeological investigation, repair and construction of facilities, improvements to camping grounds, acquisition of property, speleological survey (atmospheric and biological studies), park boundary surveys, drownings at Pedernales Falls State Park, study to increase visitation at LBJ State Historic Park, furnishing historic sites with appropriate period pieces, removal of flood debris, soil erosion, and a biological and game study. Files are present for 13 different sites - San Jose Mission State Historic Site (now operated by the National Park Service), Gorman Falls State Park, Blanco State Recreation Area, Pedernales Falls State Park, Garner State Park, Lyndon B. Johnson State Historic Park, Guadalupe River State Park, Kerrville State Recreation Area (now operated by the City of Kerrville), Jose Navarro State Historic Site, Inks Lake State Park, Admiral Nimitz State Historic Park (now operated by the Historical Commission), Landmark Inn State Historic Park, and Lost Maples State Natural Area (also Sabinal State Park).

Purpose:
Files document a variety of activities undertaken by the agency to acquire, improve, and upkeep park facilities, historic sites and state natural areas.

The Executive Office is headed by an Executive Director who is responsible for the administration, operation, and planning functions of the Department. He keeps the Commissioners, legislators, and Governor informed of upcoming meetings, hearings, topics of importance, and routine matters. Inquiries sent to these individuals regarding Parks and Wildlife projects and areas of concern are often referred to the executive director for a response. The Land Conservation section of this office is currently responsible for all land appraisal and acquisition activities for the agency, a function formerly handled largely by the State Parks Division (Public Lands Division).

The State Parks Division protects, interprets, and manages cultural and natural resources and provides recreational opportunities to the public on land owned or leased by TPWD, which includes 119 state parks, historic sites, and natural areas. The division also provides planning assistance and administers matching grants to local communities and counties for park acquisition and development, public boat ramps and other facilities, and outreach. In the early years of TPWD the State Parks Division also investigated potential land acquisitions for state parks and historic sites, negotiated and prepared contracts for the donation or purchase of land, researched title information, constructed new park facilities and did renovations and repairs in existing facilities. In 1963 the Parks Division developed a statewide comprehensive outdoor recreation plan - the Texas Outdoor Recreation Plan. This plan was updated every five years. Master plans for state parks were begun in 1965. During a brief period in the 1990s, the State Parks Division was known as the Public Lands Division, whose duties included the management of some wildlife areas in addition to state parks, historic sites, and natural areas. Today, land acquisition activities are handled through the executive office and the Infrastructure Division handles design and construction of new facilities, repairs of existing facilities, and development of TPWD lands. Wildlife areas are managed by the Wildlife Division. The Texas Outdoor Recreation Plan has been incorporated into the more comprehensive Land and Water Resources Conservation and Recreation Plan prepared by the agency. The 77th Texas Legislature (Senate Bill 305, Regular Session) required that Texas Parks and Wildlife Department prepare (be adopted by the Commission) the Land and Water Resources Conservation and Recreation Plan by October 15, 2002. The plan was adopted and the latest version (2005) is on the website of the TPWD (http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/publications/pwdpubs/pwd_pl_e0100_0867/).

The Infrastructure Division administers TPWD's Capital Program, which includes all new construction, restoration, renovation, maintenance, and repair projects. It is responsible for all design and construction contracts for the department, and it provides professional design, construction, and project management services to state parks, wildlife management areas, hatcheries, and other department facilities. The division is also TPWD's liaison with the Texas Department of Transportation, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, and the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.

Arrangement:
Files are arranged by name of park, historic site or state natural area.

Access constraints: None.

Use constraints: None

Indexes or finding aids required for/or an aid to access? None

Problems: None

Known related records in other agencies: None

Previous destructions:
None known.

Publications based on records: None

Series data from agency schedule:
Title: Administrative correspondence files
Series item number: 1.1.007
Agency item number: 1.1.007 A
Archival code: R
Retention: FE +3

Related archival holdings:
None.

Appraisal Decision
This box of files was transferred from the regional office to the records management section in recent months. The files have long fulfilled their retention period and should probably have been placed with like files in other division's records after a period of time. I do not know how much of this information might be duplicated in administrative correspondence of the executive office; we do not have files of the executive office for that time period. We do have similar files regarding the San Jose Mission in the files of the State Parks Division. The file folder labels gave the name of the site and in almost all folders, added "Permanent Correspondence." Most of the issues discussed are significant and these files should be retained. They will be added to the overall finding aid as administrative correspondence files of region seven.

These files were appraised as archival.

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Laura Saegert, Appraisal Archivist, October 6, 2006

Records Series Review
Series Title: Communications Division director's correspondence

Agency: Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, Communications Division

Contact: Melissa Laneman, Records Management Assistant

Agency holdings:
Files being reviewed comprise about 0.4 cubic ft., dating 1997-2002.

Description:
Files consist of incoming and outgoing correspondence and internal memoranda of the Communications Division of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. Dates covered are 1997-2002. The outgoing replies are generally from the division director and respond to issues such as advertising and sponsorship, production of videos and publications, requests from the public for photos, questions from the public about publications or articles, the Passport to Texas radio series, and media interviews for an exhibit. During the period covered by these records, agency records management staff said the Communications Division handled a lot of the correspondence for the Executive Office. There are also several large folders of correspondence of Andrew Sansom, the Executive director during this time period. The Sansom correspondence covers a variety of issues and Sansom signs the outgoing letters. We are considering those particular letters to be administrative correspondence of the Executive Office, which is an archival series, thus the Sansom letters are not part of the series being described in this series review.

Purpose:
Files document activities of the Communications Division of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Dept.

The Communications Division manages internal and external communication and marketing for the agency. External products include the Texas Parks and Wildlife magazine, a PBS television series, and the Passport to Texas radio series. The division also produces print and video news releases, hunting and boating safety education programs, and employee newsletters; and continues to develop and enhance the agency's web site. The division operates the Texas Conservation Passport program and its consumer research group, which produce information about the state's natural and cultural resources. The division also provides a department-wide education, planning and evaluation effort, the state's mandatory boater and hunter education programs, mobile shooting ranges, aquatic education, angler education, Project WILD and Aquatic WILD, interactive web casts, and target range grants.

Arrangement:
Files are arranged by type of correspondence and chronologically therein.

Access constraints: None.

Use constraints: None

Indexes or finding aids required for/or an aid to access? None

Problems: None

Known related records in other agencies: None

Previous destructions:
None known.

Publications based on records: None

Series data from agency schedule:
Title: Division director's administrative correspondence
Series item number: 1.1.007
Agency item number: 1.1.007 C
Archival code: E
Retention: FE +3

Related archival holdings:
None.

Appraisal Decision
The files reviewed consist of fairly general correspondence concerning activities of the Communications Division. Activities documented include advertising and sponsorship, production of videos and publications, requests from the public for photos, questions from the public about publications or articles, the Passport to Texas radio series, media interviews for an exhibit, etc. These are all worthy activities, but without significant historical or archival value. I recommend the correspondence of the Communications Division and future correspondence from this division be appraised as not archival. These files can be discarded.

The archival review code for this series is E, but staff asked us to look at files of several division directors during this time period because most correspondence from the executive office was sent to the divisions for reply and supposedly not forwarded back to the Executive Office. Now, the Executive Office keeps copies of its replies instead of having those maintained at the division that may have drafted the response. Records staff also said that the Communications Division handled many of the replies to correspondence for the executive director during this period. Within the box of Communications Division correspondence were folders of Sansom correspondence with copies outgoing replies signed by him. Perhaps staff in the Communications Division drafted the letters, if so, that is not evident. The Sansom letters cover generally more significant issues of the agency, with very few concerning the Communications Division. The Sansom letters are not being appraised as part of this series, they are considered part of the Executive Office administrative correspondence, which is archival.

The correspondence files of the Communications Division was appraised as not archival.

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Laura Saegert, Appraisal Archivist, September 19, 2006

Records Series Review
Series Title: Building construction project files of former park properties

Agency: Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, Infrastructure Division

Contact: Melissa Laneman, Records Management Assistant

Agency holdings:
Files being reviewed are about 0.4 cubic ft., dating 1983-1995.

Description:
This series contains a small amount of records for parks formerly part of the Texas Parks and Wildlife parks system. Records being reviewed for Lake Lewisville State Park are wastewater permit files, correspondence regarding these permit files, and appraisal sheets of surrounding property owners, dating 1983-1995. There is one small file for Bastrop State Park which was transferred to the LCRA in 1996. Bastrop State Park is still part of the Texas state parks system. The item in the Bastrop file is a letter to the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission notifying that agency of the construction of a new water distribution system adjacent to existing parkland, dating 1995.

Purpose:
These particular files document efforts of the agency to maintain current wastewater permits for one park and serve to notify another agency of a new water distribution system being built adjacent to another park.

The Infrastructure Division administers the agency's Capital Program, which includes all new construction, restoration, renovation, maintenance, and repair projects. It is responsible for all design and construction contracts for the department, and it provides professional design, construction, and project management services to state parks, wildlife management areas, hatcheries, and other department facilities. The division is also TPWD's liaison with the Texas Department of Transportation, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, and the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.

Arrangement:
Files are arranged by park then by record type.

Access constraints: None.

Use constraints: None

Indexes or finding aids required for/or an aid to access? None

Problems: None

Known related records in other agencies: None

Previous destructions:
None known.

Publications based on records:
None known.

Series data from agency schedule: (according to agency staff, this is the series)
Title: Building construction project files
Series item number: 5.2.002
Agency item number: 5.2.002A
Archival code: A
Retention: LA+10

Related archival holdings:
Building plans and drawings of former Texas Parks and Wildlife Department properties (bulk are plans and drawings of Lake Lewisville State Park), one map drawer, 1980s.

Appraisal Decision
The files being reviewed do not document the construction of the facilities at Lake Lewisville, rather they concern waste water permits for the facilities at the park and landowners adjacent to the park; the letter regarding Bastrop State Park serves to notify TNRCC of the construction of a new water distribution system along adjacent park lands but does not have any construction details. I do not consider these to be the type of building construction project files worthy of archival retention. The bulk of the files are wastewater permits which are maintained at the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (formerly TNRCC). The agency has asked for these back if we do not keep them, I recommend we return them to the agency for disposal.

Files were appraised as not archival and returned to the Parks and Wildlife Department in September 2006.

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Laura Saegert, Appraisal Archivist, September 20, 2006

Records Series Review
Series Title: State fish hatcheries files

Agency: Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, Inland Fisheries Division

Contact: Melissa Laneman, Records Management Assistant

Agency holdings:
Files being reviewed comprise two cubic ft. and date 1937 to about 1995.

Description:
The textual files under review are files of the Tyler Fish Hatchery and consist of correspondence, memos, reports, clippings, monthly bulletins, fisheries investigations, studies, operating procedures, manuals, hatchery plans and budgets, maps, specifications, culture plans and production guidelines for several species, and photographs, dating 1937 to about 1993. The files document a variety of functions at the hatchery including construction of additions, fish propagation, fish distribution, culture planning for several game fish species, record fish catches, and they provide some information on the overall operation of the fish hatchery. The Tyler hatchery was the longest running state-owned fish hatchery in Texas, opening in the 1920s and closing very recently. Today the TPWD operates the Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center, which includes a fish hatchery, and four other hatcheries statewide. There is also a cubic foot box of photographic media consisting of photographs, slides and negatives, dating 1938 to about 1995. Shots include views of facilities and activities at several state fish hatcheries, shots of fish catches, and construction of the Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center in the mid 1990s. Portrait photographs of Texas Parks and Wildlife Commissioners and the executive director from about 1964 are also present.

Purpose:
The paper files document operations at the Tyler Fish Hatchery; the photographs provide visual documentation of activities at several fish hatcheries and the construction of the Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center.

The Inland Fisheries Division manages the freshwater fishery resources of the state, which consist of 626 public impoundments and 80,000 miles of rivers and streams covering 1.7 million acres. The division activities include fisheries management and research, fish production, angler education and information, fishing access projects, and aquatic habitat management. The division also operates five fish hatchery facilities to enhance populations of several species of fish. This includes the Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center in Athens, which combines a state-of-the-art fish hatchery with an educational visitors' center.

Arrangement:
Textual files are arranged by topic or record type. Photographs are arranged by the facility.

Access constraints: None.

Use constraints: None

Indexes or finding aids required for/or an aid to access? None

Problems: None

Known related records in other agencies: None

Previous destructions:
None known.

Publications based on records: None

Series data from agency schedule: (likely part of this series, at least the textual files)
Title: Inland Fisheries Division project files
Series item number: 1.1
Agency item number: 1.1.TPW2.C
Archival code: A
Retention: AC+5

Related archival holdings:
Texas Game and Fish Commission records, 1896, 1899-1969, 1976, bulk 1928-1963, 21 cubic ft.

Appraisal Decision
The files document a variety of functions at the Tyler Fish Hatchery and provide some documentation on the overall operation of the hatchery. There is early visual documentation on this fish hatchery and several others. Additionally, the construction of the Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center photographs may be of some interest as well since that is the premier fish facility of the agency at this time. These files, in my opinion and that of the records management staff, can be considered to be project files of the Inland Fisheries Division, which is an archival series. The files provide sufficient documentation on the state fish hatcheries, especially the Tyler hatchery, to warrant retention in the State Archives. I recommend we keep these files.

These files were appraised as archival.

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Laura Saegert, Appraisal Archivist, September 21, 2006

Records Series Review
Series Title: Game warden files

Agency: Texas Parks and Wildlife Department
Law Enforcement Division

Contact: Melissa Laneman, Records Management Assistant

Agency holdings:
Files being reviewed comprise about 0.25 cubic ft. and date 1950-1969, bulk 1963-1965.

Description:
These files consist of memos and correspondence re: investigations of a few game wardens, memos re: the retirement or reinstatement of a few game wardens, and memos, correspondence, lists, and an annotated course syllabus for the game warden training school. Files are dated 1950-1969, bulk dating 1963-1965. Correspondence in the training school file consists of letters sent by the Texas Game and Fish Commission to their employees, probably game wardens, informing them of their selection to take an upcoming course and where the class would be held. Most of the documents are from the Game and Fish Commission; some later ones are from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.

Purpose:
The files document some personnel action taken against a few game wardens and document the course curriculum for one year of the game warden training school.

The Law Enforcement Division operates a statewide law enforcement program to protect Texas' wildlife, other natural resources, and the environment. It is also responsible for recreational water safety and safe boating on public waters. Texas Game Wardens are responsible for enforcement of the Parks and Wildlife Code, all TPWD regulations, the Texas Penal Code and selected statutes and regulations applicable to clean air and water, hazardous materials and human health. Wardens fulfill these responsibilities by educating the public about various laws and regulations, preventing violations by conducting high visibility patrols, and apprehending and arresting violators. Operation Game Thief provides citizens with a toll-free number to report poaching and other violations. As of 2006, the Law Enforcement Division employs about 500 wardens throughout the state and operates 27 field offices that sell licenses, register boats, and provide the public with local information across the state.

Arrangement:
Files are arranged by name of warden or topic.

Access constraints: Yes. Some of the material in the copies of the personnel files is confidential.

Use constraints: None

Indexes or finding aids required for/or an aid to access? None

Problems: None

Known related records in other agencies: None

Previous destructions:
None known.

Publications based on records: None known

Series data from agency schedule: unknown

Related archival holdings:
None.

Appraisal Decision
These records are similar to personnel files, documenting action taken against a few game wardens begin investigated and the files also concern the requested reinstatement or requirement of a few other wardens. The data in the training file is minimal; the information in those files should be available in agency reports. These files are not archival and I recommend they be shredded.

These files were appraised at not archival and shredded in October 2006.

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Laura Saegert, Appraisal Archivist, September 21, 2006

Records Series Review
Series Title: Wetland Conservation Program grant application files

Agency: Texas Parks and Wildlife Department
Resource Protection Division, Wetland Conservation Program (now part of the Inland Fisheries Division)

Contact: Melissa Laneman, Records Management Assistant

Agency holdings:
Files being reviewed comprise about 4 cubic ft. and date 1998-2001

Description:
The files under review consist of grant applications, reviews by Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) staff, summary project sheets, and supporting documentation submitted with the grants, including maps, drawings, and letters of recommendation. Dates covered are 1998-2001. Most of the files consist of grant applications without TPWD staff reviews, though some applications have reviews attached. There are also reviews by staff without the applications. The files concern two types of grants issued by TPWD - Interactive Coastal Management Program (ICMP) grants and grants-in-aid.

The ICMP grants are from a federal grant program of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration acting on the authority of Section 309 of the Coastal Management Act. This act established a voluntary coastal zone enhancement grants program to encourage states and territories to develop program changes in one or more or eight coastal zone enhancement areas, including wetlands, public access, coastal hazards, cumulative and secondary impacts, energy and government facility sites, marine debris, ocean resources, and special area management plans. Grants could be submitted by TPWD for state areas they administer or by local entities such as city governments. Types of projects include planting marsh grasses, litter abatement, sand movement, development of coastal environmental strategies for coastal areas, beachfront improvements, construction of facilities, building of or improvement to trails and walking areas, filling in wetlands, and promotional campaigns, such as reducing litter on beaches. The bulk of these materials are grant applications by local entities without any review comments by TPWD staff.

The grants-in-aid were issued by TPWD with federal or state funds, usually as a matching grant of 50 percent. I could not find much information about these specific grants, which are simply called grants-in-aid on the applications. A few applications referred to funding through the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, most referred to the Texas Recreation and Parks Account grant program (TRPA). The TRPA program is funded through a portion of Texas sales tax received on select sporting good items. The applications are for recreational grants submitted by local and regional entities for projects such as renovation of park facilities, construction of new parks, and construction or renovation of boat ramps, swimming pools, and athletic complexes. A few of the grant applications do contain an assessment of the project by TPWD staff that briefly discuss any impact on the environment and whether they feel the project would get the necessary permits from the Corps of Engineers, Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission or other permitting bodies. The bulk of the files are grant applications without reviews by agency staff.

There is no indication in either of these sets of files if these applications were awarded. In both sets of files there is an occasional review of some length that discusses environmental impacts, however most reviews are very brief. Environmental assessments are part of the project files series but, based on reviews of previous accessions of assessments in our holdings, they are maintained separately from the actual grant applications.

Purpose:
Grant application reviews give the agency staff an opportunity to provide feedback on the pros and cons of projects requesting grant funds. The grants are provided to communities to improve conditions along the coastal shores and to increase recreational opportunities in local areas.

Resource Protection was a former division whose functions were absorbed by other program divisions following an agency-wide reorganization in 2004. The division's duties included protecting fish, wildlife, plant and mineral resources from degradation or depletion, investigating environmental contamination that may cause the loss of fish or wildlife, providing information and recommendations to other government agencies and participating in administrative and judicial proceedings concerning pollution incidents, development projects, and other actions that may affect fish and wildlife. It reviewed permits proposed for wastewater discharge and hazardous waste disposal by the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission and the Railroad Commission. The division also investigated fish kills, attempting to determine responsibility for the kill and recovering the economic value of the fish and other lost aquatic life from the polluter. It also assessed injury to fish and wildlife resources from oil and hazardous chemical releases and sought restoration from the responsible party. The division represented the department in the Interagency Council for Oil Spill Response Planning and the Coastal Coordinating Council, a multi-agency body that reviews and coordinates state and federal laws and actions affecting the Texas coast. The division worked with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to protect wetland areas and to dispose of dredge material from Texas bays; and it worked to protect sensitive ecological habitats and rare, threatened, or endangered plants and animals. The Resource Conservation Branch of the division worked with the Governor's Texas Review and Comment System (TRACS) by reviewing and commenting on various projects that may or may not have environmental impact on state resources. It also supported the Geographic Information Systems Laboratory. The GIS lab today is operated by the Executive Office and provides specialized training and spatial analysis as part of its support of agency-wide efforts to develop, manage, and maintain digital maps and natural and cultural databases which allow biologists and resource managers to more effectively manage state resources.

Arrangement:
Files are arranged chronologically.

Access constraints: None.

Use constraints: None

Indexes or finding aids required for/or an aid to access? None

Problems: None

Known related records in other agencies: None

Previous destructions:
None known.

Publications based on records: None known

Series data from agency schedule: (the records management staff lists these materials as possibly project files, though I'm not sure they fit the description of that series)

Title: Project/program files, Inland Fisheries Division
Series item number: 1.1
Agency item number: 1.1.TPW2.C
Archival code: A
Retention: AC+5

Related archival holdings:
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, Resource Protection Division, Wetland Conservation project files, 1970s-1990s, about 13 cubic ft. (unprocessed, multiple accessions)

Appraisal Decision
The grant application files document coastal management and recreation grants received by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department for a brief period of time, 1998-2001. There is some evidence of the review process, but the information provided by the reviews is insufficient, in my opinion, to warrant retention of these files in the Archives, especially since we do not know which grants were awarded and what changes were actually made to the environment. Environment assessments of various projects undertaken by or funded through the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department are present in the Resource Protection Division, Wetland Conservation project files, which provide sufficient documentation of the agency's environmental review process. I recommend these files be considered to be non-archival.

Files were appraised as not archival and shredded in October 2006.

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Laura Saegert, Appraisal Archivist, September 20, 2006

Records Series Review
Series Title: Texas Parks and Wildlife Department library design and operation files

Agency: Texas Parks and Wildlife Department

Contact: Melissa Laneman, Records Management Assistant

Agency holdings:
Files being reviewed comprise about 0.5 cubic ft. and date from the 1970s through the early 1990s

Description:
The files under review were removed from the librarian's office when the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department library was closed in the mid 1990s. Files include memos, lists of books, an outline of services performed by the librarian, lists of books discarded, copies of sections of a records retention schedule, book transfer forms (mainly re: books lent to regional offices), and design plans for construction of the library. Dates covered are the 1970s-early 1990s.

Purpose:
Files document the planning for a state agency library and routine operations.

Arrangement:
Files are arranged by topic.

Access constraints: None.

Use constraints: None

Indexes or finding aids required for/or an aid to access? None

Problems: None

Known related records in other agencies: None

Previous destructions:
None known.

Publications based on records: None.

Series data from agency schedule: not on schedule

Related archival holdings: None

Appraisal Decision
The memos, book lists, and transfer forms are routine administrative files of library operations and do not have archival value. The design plans and accompanying files (a few memos and product catalog excerpts) document a design of the department's library. Records management staff have said they do not believe these specific designs were ever implemented due to budget constraints. The library was discontinued at the agency and books send to leased storage place for several years. I recommend these records be discarded.

Files were appraised as not archival and shredded in October 2006.

Records Appraisal Report: Parks and Wildlife Department Additional Series Reviews

Contents of this report Agency Contact | Record Series Reviews

Related reports 1999 Appraisal report 2000 Revised series reviews

Archival finding aid An Inventory of Parks and Wildlife Department Records at the Texas State Archives, 1905-2004, bulk 1963-2004

Agency Contact

Record Series Reviews

Records Appraisal Report:
Parks and Wildlife Department Additional Series Reviews

Contents of this report
Agency Contact | Record Series Reviews

Related reports
1999 Appraisal report
2000 Revised series reviews

Archival finding aid
An Inventory of Parks and Wildlife Department Records at the Texas State Archives, 1905-2004, bulk 1963-2004