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Dear Jerry,
Our industry is under attack in Texas and others are following their lead.
Far reaching restrictions on Aquatic Plants are coming unless we stand up now.
Amazingly, the State of Texas's Park and Wildlife Department is poised to enact sweeping changes to what aquatic plants can legally be grown and sold in the state. The impact to state taxpayers who will have to pay park rangers to inspect hundreds of nurseries across the state is state issue, but the impact on the aquatics industry simply cannot be overstated.
This month the agency will present to state legislators their new list of aquatic plants that they approve of for sale.
The approved list includes a few hundred varieties, and does not include many plants that are regularly sold by aquatic and terrestrial nurseries today.
By its nature, it bans ALL other aquatic plants from sale. The law changes the operating procedure that currently bans 19 aquatic plants, to banning everything unless specifically approved.
At this time there are some significant plants that have not yet been approved including:
Elephant Ears
Egyptian Papyrus
Water Poppy
Yellow Snowflake
Dwarf Cattail
Graceful Cattail
Variegated Spider Lily
Mexican Petunia. (We know... it is not even an aquatic plant!)
This is NOT JUST A TEXAS PROBLEM. Accroding to Larry Nau of IWGS, New York and Maryland are drafting similar regulations. They will most certainly follow Texas's lead create white lists like this. We all know how government agencies copy each other, and ideas like this spread like wildfire.
Rolf Nelson notes "businesses from other states may have Texas growers as their supplier. Even if the species still not approved do not make up the bulk of their orders, if Texas growers are weakened by the loss of some of their revenue stream could it put them at risk of going out of business."
What are the penalties if you are caught by TPWD with these plants? Possession of AN(1) illegal plant is classified as a Class B Misdemeanor--up to a $2,000.00 fine &/or 180 days in jail.
What can we do?
1) If you propagate or sell these plants in Texas now, contact Rolf Nelson at Nelson Water Gardens -
rolf77466@gmail.com. They are collecting information to submit to the TPWD, and could use your assistance.
2) Attend one of the five upcoming Public Hearings meeting, listen and share your thoughts. All meetings begin at 7 p.m.
Katy January 11, 2011 Bass Pro Shops, 5000 Katy Mills Circle
Austin January 13, 2011 TPWD Headquarters, Commission Hearing Room, 4200 Smith School Road
San Antonio January 18, 2011 Lions Field Adult Center, 2809 Broadway Street
Fort Worth January 19, 2011 Cabela's, 12901 Cabela's Drive
The Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission is scheduled to vote on the proposed rules at its Jan. 27, 2011 meeting at TPWD's Austin headquarters. The public is welcome to attend this meeting and provide additional comments for the Commission's consideration. IF AT ALL POSSIBLE, PLEASE TRY TO ATTEND THIS MEETING AND BE HEARD.
3) Please forward this email to others in the industry, particularly Texas residents quickly as time to implementation is very short.
The "White List" concept of banning all plants unless specifically approved is a bad idea, and yet it is taking hold. We must all be vigilant and oppose it when it is proposed.
To learn more go to iwgs.org and Texas Parks and Wildlife's site
or contact me at
tomg@pondtrademag.comSincerely,
Tom Graham
POND Trade
