Commission Agenda Item No. 8
Presenter: Ted Hollingsworth

Action
Acceptance of Land Donation – Brazoria County
Approximately 230 Acres at the Follets Island Coastal Preserve
August 25, 2016

I.       Executive Summary: The Trust for Public Land is in the process of acquiring tracts of land for addition to the Follets Island Coastal Preserve.

II.     Discussion: Follets Island separates the Christmas-Drum Bay system from the Gulf of Mexico and extends from the mouth of the Brazos River to San Louis Pass, which separates it from Galveston Island. Unlike Galveston Island, significant tracts of undeveloped land extending from the Gulf to the bay still exist on Follets Island. In 2014, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) acquired a 441-acre tract to form the core of the Follets Island Coastal Preserve (FICP). FICP is managed by TPWD’s Coastal Fisheries Department. The value of conservation on Follets Island is leveraged by a coastal lease on Christmas Bay and the fact that the opposite (north) shore of the Christmas-Drum Bay system is entirely within the Brazoria National Wildlife Refuge.

For the past year, the Trust for Public Land (TPL) has been working with TPWD to identify means to expand the FICP through purchase of appropriate tracts from willing sellers. In May, TPL was invited to submit a “full proposal” to the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) for funding from the Gulf Environmental Benefit Fund to acquire two (2) tracts totaling approximately 230 acres. TPL requests that TPWD authorize acceptance of these tracts as a donation as it proceeds with acquisition, pending potential award of the NFWF grant.

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 approximately 230 acres of land for addition to the Follets Island Costal Preserve in Brazoria County.”

Attachments – 3

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

Commission Agenda Item No. 8
Exhibit A

Location Map for Follets Island Coastal Preserve in Brazoria County

Location Map for Follets Island Coastal Preserve in Brazoria County


Commission Agenda Item No. 8
Exhibit B

Vicinity Map for Follets Island Coastal Preserve – 50 Miles South of Houston

Vicinity Map for Follets Island Coastal Preserve – 50 Miles South of Houston


Commission Agenda Item No. 8
Exhibit C

Site Map Showing Location of Donation Tracts
Existing Coastal Preserve in Yellow
Follets Island Project Area in White
Subject Tracts in Red

Site Map Showing Location of Donation Tracts