Conservation Committee

Wednesday, 9:00am, April 5, 2006

Commission Hearing Room
4200 Smith School Road
Austin, TX 78744
Item No. Subject Public Hearing Agenda Item No.
  Approve previous Committee Meeting minutes.  
1. Land and Water Plan Update
Staff: Robert Cook
Committee Only
2. Oil and Gas Lease Nomination – Harris County (Sheldon Lake State Park – 54.57 Acre Tract)
Staff: Corky Kuhlmann
13
3. Land Transfer – Brown County – Lake Brownwood State Park (Proposed Transfer of 47 acres to the Brown County Water Improvement District)
Staff: Ted Hollingsworth
14
4. Land Transfer – Hidalgo County – (Acceptance of Transfer of the Unoccupied Portion of Approximately 18.5 Acres from the City of Weslaco for the World Birding Center)
Staff: Scott Boruff
15
5. Right of Way Easement Request – Nacogdoches County (Pipeline Construction at Alazan Bayou WMA)
Staff: Jack Bauer
16
6. Land Transfer – Freestone County – Richland Creek WMA (Acceptance of 68 Acres)
Staff: Jack Bauer
17
7. Land Sale – Uvalde County – Garner State Park – Permission to Begin Public Notice and Input Process (Proposed Sale of One Acre to Adjacent Landowner)
Staff: Corky Kuhlmann
Committee and Executive Session
8. Withdrawn: Request for Driveway and Utility Access Along Smith School Road – Travis County – McKinney Falls State Park
Staff: Jack Bauer
Committee and Executive Session 18

Committee Agenda Item No. 1
Presenter: Robert L. Cook

Conservation Committee
Land and Water Plan Update
April 2006

I. Executive Summary: Executive Director Robert L. Cook will briefly update the Commission on the status of the agency’s efforts to implement the Land and Water Resources Conservation and Recreation Plan (the Plan).

II. Discussion: In 2001, the 77th Texas Legislature directed that the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) develop a Land and Water Resources Conservation and Recreation Plan (Tex. Park & Wild. Code §11.104). In November 2002, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission (the Commission) adopted the first Plan. A revised Plan was adopted by the Commission in January 2005. The Plan is available on the TPWD web site. Executive Director Robert L. Cook will update the Conservation Committee on TPWD's recent progress in achieving the Plan’s Goals and Objectives as they relate to the Conservation Committee.

The Plan consists of 8 Goals and a total of 56 Objectives. The Goals stated in the Plan are as follows:


Committee Agenda Item No. 7
Presenter: Corky Kuhlmann

Conservation Committee
Land Sale – Ulvade County
Garner State Park
April 2006

I. Executive Summary: The initiation of the public input process regarding a land sale reserving a conservation easement to an adjacent landowner at Garner State Park is proposed for consideration by the Commission

II. Discussion: The 2,029-acre Garner State Park (Park) is located 30 miles north of Uvalde in Uvalde County along the Frio River. The Park has approximately three miles of Frio River riverfront and remains one of the most popular parks in the Texas Parks and Wildlife system with an FY05 visitor count of over 250,000, providing recreational opportunities including camping, hiking, nature study, picnicking, canoeing, fishing, hunting, dancing and all types of water activities in the Frio River.

A request has been made by an adjacent landowner to purchase a 1.27-acre tract of the park (see Exhibit A). The tract is surrounded on two sides by the requesting landowner, one side by a county road, with one side being contiguous to the Park. The tract is not used by the Park, and if sold will have a conservation easement reserved by TPWD. The adjacent landowner will also donate a conservation easement on his existing property to TPWD that includes approximately 500 feet of the east side of the Frio River. The property is bound by the Park to the center of the river along its western boundary and also adjacent to the Park along its northern boundary. The conservation easement will prevent an incompatible land use along the 500 foot reach of riverfront that is adjacent to the park.

Staff would like to begin the process of providing public notice and obtaining public input regarding a proposed sale of 1.27 acres of land at Garner State Park to an adjacent landowner.

Attachments - 1

  1. Exhibit A - Location Map

Committee Agenda Item No. 7
Exhibit A

Location Map

This image is a representation of where the proposed sale property lies in relation to Garner State Park

For help in interpreting this map, please contact Jack Bauer.


Committee Agenda Item No. 8
Presenter: Jack Bauer

Conservation Committee
Right-of-Way and Utility Easement Request
Travis County
April 2006

I. Executive Summary: This item represents a staff recommendation for consideration by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission (Commission) to grant an adjacent landowner right-of-way (ROW) and utility easements to and along Smith School Road at Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD headquarters on McKinney Falls State Park.

II. Discussion: Telecom Park L P, a west-side adjacent landowner to the Smith School Road entrance to TPWD headquarters at McKinney Falls State Park, has requested road and utility access to and along Smith School Road connecting access from Telecom Office Park, Lot 2, Block A to Burleson Road. Telecom Office Park has been plated and permitted for commercial use by the City of Austin and the owner is requesting dedication of access to Smith School Road and a right-of-way easement along Smith School Road for both utility service and road access.