Presenter: Ted Hollingsworth

Commission Agenda Item No. 24
Action
Land Acquisition - Brazoria County
Nannie M. Stringfellow Wildlife Management Area
August 23, 2007

I. Executive Summary: Staff proposes acquisition of a 20-acre undivided inholding in the Brazoria County Mitigation Bank Unit of the Nannie M. Stringfellow Wildlife Management Area (WMA).

II. Discussion: In the 1990's, TPWD staff worked closely with the Texas Department of Transportation (TXDOT) to create the 3,552-acre Brazoria County Mitigation Bank for use by TXDOT as compensatory mitigation for wetland impacts associated with transportation projects in the coastal bend. As a part of the arrangement between TPWD and TXDOT, TPWD manages the land, and the bank will be conveyed in fee to TPWD once the available mitigation credits have been debited.

Recently, TPWD was contacted by a person in Indiana who owns a 20-acre undivided inholding within the mitigation bank. The owner wishes to transfer the land to TPWD in exchange for payment of taxes due, which amount to a fraction of the market value of the land. TXDOT is unwilling to acquire the tract, because acquisition will not affect their access to mitigation bank credit. Ownership will, however, affect TPWD ability to manage and operate the WMA in the future. Therefore, staff recommends acquisition at this time.

III. Recommendation: The staff recommends the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission adopt the following motion:

"The Executive Director is authorized to take all necessary steps to acquire approximately 20-acres undivided surface interest in the Nannie M. Stringfellow Wildlife Management Area."

Attachments – 1

  1. Exhibit A – Property Map

Commission Agenda Item No. 24
Exhibit A

Map of Nannie M. Stringfellow WMA Showing Area of Subject Tract

Location of subject tract in relation to Nannie M. Stringfellow WMA

For help in interpreting this map, please contact Ted Hollingsworth.