Commission Agenda Item No. 6
Presenter: Ted Hollingsworth

Action
Acceptance of Land Donation – Cameron County
Conservation Tracts near Boca Chica
March 24, 2016

I.       Executive Summary: Space Exploration Technologies Corporation (SpaceX) has been acquiring privately-owned tracts of land near Boca Chica State Park and requests that certain of these tracts be transferred to Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD).

II.     Discussion: Boca Chica State Park, fronting on the Gulf of Mexico just 3 miles north of the mouth of the Rio Grande, was acquired in 1994, and consists of a number of tracts totaling 1,056 acres of dunes, flats, marshes and coastal grasslands. It is surrounded by lagoons, vast tidal flats, and unusual brush-covered mounds called lomas. TPWD’s lands have been managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) as a component of the Lower Rio Grande National Wildlife Refuge since 2007 under the terms of a 50 year lease. A significant area within and adjacent to Boca Chica was subdivided into relatively small lots during the 20th century. Over the years a number of these lots, both inside and outside the state park, have been donated to TPWD or USFWS.

Due to its remoteness, minimal nearby development, and southern latitude, the area was chosen by SpaceX for the construction of a new space vehicle launch facility. To help meet regulatory requirements and minimize the potential for future land use conflicts, SpaceX has been buying privately owned tracts of land within a certain radius of the proposed launch facility. In November, 2015, the TPW Commission authorized the Executive Director to accept donations of tracts from SpaceX lying with the boundary of the state park. Now SpaceX requests that the TPW Commission authorize the Executive Director to accept tracts with clear conservation value close to, but outside the boundary of the state park.

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

“The Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission authorizes the Executive Director to take all necessary steps to accept the donation of tracts of land with conservation value near Boca Chica State Park in Cameron County.”

Attachments – 3

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

Commission Agenda Item No. 6
Exhibit A

Location Map for Boca Chica State Park in Cameron County

Location Map for Boca Chica State Park in Cameron County


Commission Agenda Item No. 6
Exhibit B

Vicinity Map for Boca Chica State Park, 15 Miles East of Brownsville

Vicinity Map for Boca Chica State Park, 15 Miles East of Brownsville


Commission Agenda Item No. 6
Exhibit C

Site Map for Boca Chica State Park Showing Associated Subdivisions
State Park Boundary Outlined in Red
Tracts Owned by TPWD Outside State Park Boundary Shown in Various Colors

Site Map for Boca Chica State Park Showing Associated Subdivisions