Commission Agenda Item No. 6
Presenter:
Ted Hollingsworth
Action
Acquisition of Land - Matagorda County
Approximately 453 Acres at Perry R. Bass Marine Fisheries Research Station
March 23, 2017
I. Executive Summary: Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) staff has negotiated an Option to Purchase an approximately 453-acre tract of land near the Perry R. Bass Marine Fisheries Research Station from a willing private landowner.
II. Discussion: The Perry R. Bass Marine Fisheries Research Station (PRBMFRS), on the north shore of Matagorda Bay in Matagorda County, supports a broad range of research into saltwater fisheries genetics and population dynamics. The 40-acre site, including lab, office and administrative spaces, along with ponds for fish propagation research, was acquired in 1967. The staff and research conducted at the PRBMFRS have outgrown the facilities, and staff have been evaluating opportunities for future expansion.
In 2016, it was brought to the attention of staff that a 453-acre tract of land across FM 3280 from the PRBMFRS was being offered for sale. The tract has a half mile of frontage on Matagorda Bay, two-thirds of a mile of frontage on Turtle Bay, and a mile and a half of frontage on Sartwelle Lake. The lake is rimmed with broad emergent tidal marshes, and in addition to providing space for future expansion of the PRBMFRS, the site would protect and showcase high value examples of coastal habitats from prairie to tidal flats, to seagrasses and oyster reefs, for visitors to the PRBMFRS.
TPWD has received a grant from the civil penalties arising from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill through the RESTORE Council for acquisition of high value habitat surrounding the Matagorda Bay system. On the basis of this award, staff has negotiated on Option to Buy the subject property.
III. Recommendation: The TPWD staff recommends the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission adopt the following motion:
"The TPW Commission authorizes the Executive Director to take all necessary steps to acquire approximately 453 acres in Matagorda County for addition to the Perry R. Bass Marine Fisheries Research Station"
Commission Agenda Item No. 6
Exhibit A
Location Map for the PRBMFRS in Matagorda County
Commission Agenda Item No. 6
Exhibit B
Vicinity Map for PRBMFRS, 7 Miles Southwest of Palacios
Commission Agenda Item No. 6
Exhibit C
Site Map for Subject 453-Acre Sartwelle Tracts
