Conservation Committee

Wednesday, 9:00 a.m.
January 26, 2011

Texas Parks and Wildlife Department
Commission Hearing Room
4200 Smith School Road, Austin, TX  78744

Commissioner Mark E. Bivins, Committee Chair
Scott Boruff, Committee Liaison

Approval of Previous Meeting Minutes

  1. Update on TPWD Progress in Implementing the TPWD Land and Water Resources Conservation and Recreation Plan
    Staff:  Carter Smith
  2. 2011 Water Communications Initiative
    Staff:  Lydia Saldaña
  3. Acceptance of Land Donation – Kendall and Bandera Counties – 3700 Acres (3K Ranch) (Executive Session and Action Item No. 12)
    Staff:  Corky Kuhlmann
  4. New Park Search Briefing – Palo Pinto County (Executive Session)
    Staff:  Ted Hollingsworth
  5. Request for Easement – Briscoe County – Transmission Line Crossing Caprock Canyons Trailway – Resolution (Executive Session and Action Item No. 11)
    Staff:  Ted Hollingsworth
  6. CREZ Administrative Litigation—Related to the Competitive Renewable Energy Zone Transmission Line Route Selection (Executive Session)
    Staff:  Ann Bright, Todd George
  7. Personnel Matters – Selection of New Internal Auditor (Executive Session and Action Item No. 2)
    Staff:  Carter Smith

Committee Agenda Item No. 1
Presenter:  Carter Smith

Conservation Committee
Update on TPWD Progress in Implementing the
TPWD Land and Water Resources Conservation and Recreation Plan
January 26, 2011

I.      Executive Summary:  Executive Director Carter Smith 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 2002, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission (the Commission) adopted the first Plan.  A revised Plan was adopted by the Commission in January 2005.  In November 2009, the Commission approved a new Plan effective January 1, 2010.  The 2010 Plan is available on the TPWD web site.  Executive Director Carter Smith will update the Conservation Committee on TPWD’s recent progress in achieving the Plan’s goals, objectives and deliverables as they relate to the Conservation Committee.

The Plan consists of the following four goals:

  1. Practice, Encourage and Enable Science-based Stewardship of Natural and Cultural Resources 
  2. Increase Access To and Participation In the Outdoors 
  3. Educate, Inform and Engage Texas Citizens in Support of Conservation and Recreation 
  4. Employ Efficient, Sustainable and Sound Business Practices

Committee Agenda Item No. 2
Presenter:  Lydia Saldaña

Conservation Committee
2011 Water Communications Initiative
January 26, 2011

I.       Executive Summary:  The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department is committed to educating Texans about the importance of water to the future of fish and wildlife in Texas.  2011 marks the 10th anniversary of a comprehensive communications initiative which has included a series of PBS documentaries, special issues of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Magazine, a dedicated website, and other communication and education elements.

II.     Discussion:  Communications Director Lydia Saldaña will discuss the status of the on-going effort.  The fifth hour-long documentary in the series is scheduled to air on prime-time PBS stations across Texas in February 2011.  Planning for an expanded 96-page issue of the July 2011 issue of the magazine is underway as we continue to focus attention on this important conservation issue.  In addition, a symposium of experts will discuss important water issues facing our state on January 26, 2011 at the Bob Bullock Museum.


Committee Agenda Item No. 4
Presenter:  Scott Boruff

Conservation Committee
New Park Search Briefing – Palo Pinto County
January 26, 2011

I.       Executive Summary:  Staff continues the search for a property in the Fort Worth area suitable for acquisition and development as a new state park.

II.     Discussion:  In 2008, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) netted $9.2 million from the sale of the Eagle Mountain Lake State Park property, with the understanding these funds would be used to acquire a site for a new state park in the Fort Worth area.  Since that time, staff has evaluated a number of potential new park locations, primarily in Palo Pinto, Parker, Tarrant and Johnson counties.  Staff continues the search for a tract or tracts of land that would be suitable for development of a new state park within 90 miles of Fort Worth.

            Attachments — 1

  1. Exhibit A – Map of Search Area

Committee Agenda Item No. 4
Exhibit A

Map of New Park Search Area
90 Mile Radius from Downtown Fort Worth and from Fort Worth City Limits

Map of New Park Search Area


Committee Agenda Item No. 6
Presenters:  Ann Bright
Todd George

Conservation Committee
CREZ Litigation
January 26, 2011

I.       Executive Summary:  TPWD attorneys will brief and advise the Commission regarding administrative litigation pending before the State Office of Administrative Hearings (SOAH) and/or the Public Utility Commission (PUC) and TPWD’s participation in that litigation.

II.     Discussion:  In 2005, Texas Senate Bill 20 (79th Texas Legislature, 1st Called Session) directed the Public Utility Commission (PUC) to determine the most productive wind zones in Texas.  In response to SB 20, the PUC studied 25 zones and asked developers to nominate zones in which they had an interest in developing wind energy, known as Competitive Renewable Energy Zones (CREZ) (Tex Utilities Code §§39.203, 39.904).  Also in response to SB 20, the PUC identified transmission system improvements necessary to transmit electrical power from wind generation locations in the west and northwest portions of the state to population centers such as San Antonio, Austin and Dallas/Fort Worth.  Since that time, the PUC has been evaluating proposed routes for CREZ transmission lines in multiple dockets which are heard by the State Office of Administrative Hearings (SOAH) and ultimately ruled on by the three-member Public Utility Commission.

TPWD has intervened in two of these CREZ cases:

  • SOAH Docket No. 473-10-5546, PUC Docket No. 38354, Application of LCRA Transmission Services Corporation to Amend its Certificate of Convenience and Necessity for the Proposed McCamey D to Kendall to Gillespie 345-kV CREZ Transmission Line In Schleicher, Sutton, Menard, Kimble, Mason, Gillespie, Kerr, and Kendall Counties;
  • SOAH Docket No. 473-11-0538, PUC Docket No. 38650, Application of Cross Texas Transmission, LLC to Amend its CCN for the Proposed Gray to White Deer 345 kV CREZ Transmission Line in Carson and Gray Counties.

TPWD has participated in other CREZ matters by filing comments, evaluating routes, and responding to questions.  Legal staff will discuss with and advise the Commission regarding these matters.