Resource Links

Numerous resources are available to learn more about pending and future federal actions that carry a real risk of hurting the Texas economy — and the economic well-being of individual Texans. This page will be routinely updated with resources to help citizens learn more about and provide input on these important issues.

General Resources

Notices and proposed and final rules are printed in the Federal Register. You can search for proposed regulations,  opportunities for comment and submit comments on Regulations.gov. Both sites are searchable by keyword, but enter case docket numbers if you know them for faster results.

The U.S. Congress will be reviewing many of these issues in the upcoming months.

• Watch live U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate proceedings on C-SPAN
• U.S. House of Representatives committee action
• U.S. Senate committee proceedings

Endangered Species Resources

The following links provide details on the programs and information available to help landowners, businesses and communities work with endangered species in Texas. See our glossary for definitions of the specialized terminology used in this complex regulatory system. Additional resources will be periodically added to this page. Learn more about endangered species in Texas through this website's species section, the FWS or TPWD's endangered species website.

Texas A&M University Real Estate Center Reports of Interest

• Gilliland, Charles E., and Michael Mays. (November 2003). “Endangered Species Act: A Landowner’s Guide” (PDF, 563KB). Technical Report #1648, The Real Estate Center, Texas A&M University.
• Gilliland, Charles E., and Michael Mays. (October 2003). “ESA Compliance: Look Before You Freak” (PDF, 243KB). Reprinted from Tierra Grande, Publication #1641.
• Gilliland, Charles E. (October 2002). “Endangered Species Act: What Landowners Should Know” (PDF, 94KB). Reprinted from Tierra Grande, Publication #1587.

Conservation Programs

• Partners for Fish and Wildlife (PFW)
  The PFW program restores and enhances fish and wildlife habitat on private lands. PFW projects involve wetland, grassland and riparian restoration activities. The program provides cost-sharing and technical assistance to non-federal landowners, including private landowners, local governments, tribes, educational institutions and other entities.
• Texas Landowner Incentive Program (LIP)
  LIP projects focus on creating, restoring, protecting and enhancing habitat for rare or at-risk species, as well as activities that positively impact riparian areas and watersheds. Through various funding partnerships, the program offers project cost-sharing with private landowners.
• U.S. Department of Agriculture Conservation Programs
  The U.S. Department of Agriculture offers numerous programs, providing landowners with financial, educational and technical assistance to implement conservation programs.

Funding to States

• State Wildlife Grants
  Provides federal grant funds for developing and implementing programs that benefit wildlife and their habitats, including species not hunted or fished. Priority is placed on projects that benefit species of greatest conservation concern.
• Cooperative Endangered Species Conservation Fund
  Provides federally funded grants to support state participation in voluntary conservation projects for listed and candidate species. These grants support scientific research on federally listed or potentially listed.

Enhancing Information Available on Species under Review

Little information is currently known regarding the status of many of the species currently under review. Because of the biological, sociological and economic ramifications of decisions regarding these species, it is important that the state of Texas works to enhance the reliable data available on estimates of numbers and distributions of species of concern.

The Comptroller’s office is working with the Texas Chapter of the Wildlife Society and other partners to develop training opportunities and resources to assist in developing this important data. Check back for more information on these resources.