The Habitat and Angler Access Program restores and enhances freshwater fish habitats and improves and expands bank and shoreline-based angler access on public creeks, rivers, ponds, and lakes throughout the state. The Program enables cooperation between Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Inland Fisheries Division biologists and local partners to make fishing better for all Texans.
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department requests ideas and recommendations from angling organizations, local governments, non-governmental organizations, river authorities, and tribal organizations on freshwater fish habitat and shoreline-based angler access improvement projects to be completed in public waters statewide during fiscal years 2026-2027. To be considered for the 2026-2027 cycle, project ideas and recommendations should be shared with TPWD via email at FishGrants@tpwd.texas.gov by March 31, 2025.
The following information is requested for each recommended project:
- Name of the project
- Project location (waterbody, lat/long [decimal degrees], city, county)
- Controlling authority of the public waterbody
- Contact information for the partnering organization and a contact person
- Brief description of the project
- Potential partner dollars and in-kind support
Eligible Entities
State and local governmental entities, tribal governments, river authorities, and non-profit [e.g., 501(c)(3) organizations] non-governmental organizations are eligible to contact TPWD for this opportunity.
Eligible Projects
Projects supported through the Habitat and Angler Access Program must include on-the-ground enhancement or restoration of public stream, river, or reservoir habitats or enhancement of bank and shoreline-based angling access. Projects supported during the 2026-2027 cycle must be completed no later than August 31, 2025. Projects with multiple components or phases that could extend beyond that timeframe may be considered for future cycles.
Funding Priorities
The list below represents priorities for funding for the Habitat and Angler Access Program during 2026-2027. These are examples and should not be considered as an exhaustive list of eligible projects. Other methods and types of projects that seek to enhance or restore fish habitats or improve angler access may also be considered.
Restoration and Enhancement Priorities
- Actions that address an evident habitat deficiency in a public stream, river, or reservoir (e.g., native aquatic or riparian vegetation planting, woody structure addition).
- Actions intended to improve conservation and management outcomes (e.g., increased catch-rates) for one or more fish species targeted by anglers.
- Actions that prevent, slow, or remediate degradation of existing habitats (e.g., erosion or siltation prevention, nutrient loading, or changes in water regimes).
- Actions that restore habitat for fish critical life stages (e.g., spawning or nursery habitat).
- Actions that restore connectivity to floodplains or connectivity between river reaches.
- Projects that improve fish habitats in waters within 50 miles or 1-hour drive time of metropolitan urban areas (i.e., population > 100,000).
- Projects implemented within Native Fish Conservation Areas.
- Projects in streams or rivers with, or within reservoirs fed by areas with a Watershed Protection Plan or another comprehensive plan for improving conditions for aquatic life.
Angler Access Priorities
- Projects that create new or enhance existing shoreline or riverbank access to provide bank, wade, or kayak (or other small paddle craft) fishing opportunities (motorboat ramps are not eligible through this funding source).
- Projects within 50 miles or 1-hour drive time of metropolitan urban areas (i.e., population > 100,000) to provide greater shoreline access to anglers.
- Projects that expand or create new connectivity with existing angler access programs (e.g., Texas Paddling Trails Program, Community Fishing Lakes, River Access and Conservation Areas).
Available Funding
Project ideas and recommendations shared by potential partners will be used to inform development of a statewide plan for investing approximately $500,000 in fish habitat and shoreline-based angler access improvements through the HAAP during fiscal years 2026-2027.
Resources
Proposal Template
Scoring Rubric
Applicant Checklist
Please direct questions and requests for more information to:
Michael Homer Jr.
(325) 692-0921
FishGrants@tpwd.texas.gov
2026–2027 Projects
The following projects are being implemented through the Habitat and Angler Access Program.
Lake Brownwood Habitat Enhancement Project
Lake Brownwood is a popular largemouth bass and catfish fishery located in Brownwood, TX. The reservoir is subject to extreme water level fluctuations, and fish habitat availability is substantially reduced during these periods. The intent of this project is to partner with Brown County Water Improvement District, Black Bass Stewardship Group, Texas B.A.S.S. Nation, the Reservoir Fish Habitat Partnership, and other local organizations to construct and install structural habitat in areas of the reservoir that will provide refugia for sport fish and prey and improve fishing quality.
Kirby and Ft. Phantom Hill Multipurpose Fishing Piers
Kirby and Ft. Phantom reservoirs are in Abilene, TX. The reservoirs’ shorelines have ample public access, though access amenities are lacking. The intent of this project is to partner with the City of Abilene to install a multi-use fishing pier at both Kirby and Ft. Phantom Hill reservoirs that will include two boat-loading areas and an offset fishing pier.
City of Coleman Memory Lake Habitat and Access Project
Memory Lake is a community fishing lake within the City of Coleman, TX. The reservoir is in a community park that offers a variety of activities, including fishing. The intent of this project is to partner with the City of Coleman to add aquatic vegetation and structural habitat to the habitat-deficient reservoir and to improve shoreline-based angler access by constructing a fishing pier, parking area, and an ADA-accessible walkway to the pier.
Lake Stamford Anchor Marina Crappie House Project
Lake Stamford is a large reservoir in Haskell County, Texas that provides popular fishing opportunities for largemouth bass, catfishes, and crappie. Public shoreline fishing access is limited to two marinas on opposite sides of the reservoir. The only infrastructure for shoreline-based angler access is limited to a crappie house at Anchor Marina. The crappie house has become unsafe and is sinking; it is also not currently ADA-compliant. For this project, TPWD is partnering with Haskell County to reconstruct the crappie house at Anchor Marina to provide improved, ADA-compliant, and safe fishing access to anglers.
City of Grapevine Settler’s Park Fishing Pier Expansion Project
Settler’s Park is in Grapevine, TX, and it is a popular fishing destination. One pier exists on Settler’s Park Pond, and it is the only ADA-accessible fishing pier in the city. For this project, TPWD is partnering with the City of Grapevine to expand the fishing pier, allowing for improved fishing access for anglers and providing more space to support outdoor education programs. The City of Grapevine is also independently conducting various park improvements to create better experiences for those visiting the park.
Lake Muenster Fishing Pier and Kayak Launch Project
Lake Muenster is the only publicly available lake or pond in the western portion of Cooke County, within a one-hour drive from the DFW metro area. Enhancements to outdoor recreation opportunities within a short drive of one of the fastest-growing areas in the country are greatly needed to increase recruitment, retention, and reactivation of anglers and other outdoor enthusiasts. For the project, TPWD is partnering with the Muenster Water District to create a fishing pier and kayak launch on the lake to improve public fishing and paddling access.
City of Big Spring Comanche Trails Park Fishing Pier and Kayak Launch Project
Comanche Trail Lake, a 23-acre lake located in West Texas, offers fishing in an area where few other options are available. The purpose of this project is to build a 53-ft-long floating fishing dock that is ADA-compliant with a kayak launch located at Comanche Trails Park in Big Spring, Texas. The purpose of the dock will be to improve and expand fishing access to the lake, as well as the inclusion of a launch to provide for kayak fishing. An ADA-compliant dock will also allow more anglers with disabilities to fish at the lake; the lake is within a mile of the VA Hospital of West Texas. This project will be in partnership with the Community Services Department of the City of Big Spring and the Big Spring Area Community Foundation.
Garner State Park Day Use Area Riparian Stabilization Project: Phase 2
For this project, TPWD will be expanding the number of vegetated filter strips created within one of Texas’ most visited state parks. In the first phase, areas heavily degraded by foot traffic were reseeded and planted with native species as well as biodegradable erosion control materials were used to prevent sedimentation in the Upper Frio River. This project will expand these efforts to create additional areas of habitat as well as install fencing for creating targeted access to the river while protecting the planted areas.
Cassin Lake Fish Habitat Enhancement Project
TPWD is partnering with the San Antonio River Authority to add supplemental fish habitat to Cassin Lake in San Antonio, TX. The addition of structural habitat will provide additional cover and spawning areas for bass, sunfish, and other fish species. Specifically, the addition of artificial structures will increase and diversify the hard structure in the lake, while the addition of gravel beds will create new spawning areas and opportunities for centrarchids. Additionally, native plantings will be conducted to diversify the vegetative community and provide more fish habitat diversity in the lake, and improve the quality of the fishery.
Lady Bird Lake Native Plant and Fish Habitat Restoration Project
For this project, TPWD will be partnering with The Trail Conservancy to restore native riparian and aquatic vegetation in three areas around Lady Bird Lake in the heart of downtown Austin, TX. The restoration of native vegetation will improve the quality of habitat around the lake by reducing coverage of invasive plant species with targeted removals and with the restoration of floating wetlands. Additionally, areas along the newly developed Holly Fishing Pier will also be restored with native vegetation plantings and invasive species removal.
To learn more about the Habitat and Angler Access Program or any of the projects described above, please contact Michael Homer, Jr. by phone at (325) 692-0921 or by email at FishGrants@tpwd.texas.gov.
Article source and photo credit: Texas Parks and Wildlife
