Commission Agenda Item No. 4
Presenter:  Scott Boruff

Action
Land Acquisition – Val Verde County – Devils River Ranch
December 20, 2010

I.       Executive Summary:  Staff requests action on a proposal involving the purchase of land on the Devils River in Val Verde County for operation as a new unit of the Devils River State Natural Area (SNA).

II.     Discussion:  The Devils River Ranch (the Ranch) consists of 17,639.581 acres at the confluence of the Devils River and Amistad Reservoir (Rio Grande River) in Val Verde County.  The Ranch has good access and existing infrastructure, healthy habitat, and outstanding cultural resources in the form of world-class rock art sites.  In addition, the Ranch includes approximately ten miles of frontage on the Devils River and Amistad Reservoir, and is contiguous with the Amistad National Recreation Area, consisting of some 67,000 acres on the American side of the reservoir. Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) would acquire the Ranch in a fee purchase.

The natural and cultural resources of the Ranch compliment those of the existing 20,000±acre Devils River SNA located 13 miles upstream.  The resulting SNA complex will offer tremendous opportunities for conservation and recreation.  Details for management, operation, facility development and public use of both sites are expected to be determined during the course of master planning over the next 2 ½ years.

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 17,639±acres on the Devils River in Val Verde County for addition to the Devils River State Natural Area and the Commission accepts the donation of funds to be paid by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation towards this acquisition from funds donated to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation, including funds donated to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation solely for the purpose of the acquisition.”

Attachments — 3

  1. Exhibit A – Location Map
  2. Exhibit B – Vicinity Map
  3. Exhibit C – Site Map

Commission Agenda Item No. 4
Exhibit A

Location of Devils River Ranch in Val Verde County


Commission Agenda Item No. 4
Exhibit B

Vicinity Map for the Devils River Project Area


Commission Agenda Item No. 4
Exhibit C

Site Map of Devils River SNA (in green) and Devils River Ranch (in blue)