Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission
Public Hearing
April 2002 Commission Meeting
Committee and Public Hearing Synopsis Reports
REGULATIONS COMMITTEE
April 3, 2002
ITEM 1: Chairman’s Charges
ITEM: 2 Cervid Disease Issues
Presenter: Jerry Cooke
This item amends the Scientific Breeder Proclamation to:
- Impose minimum herd health standards for deer held within scientific breeder facilities
- Prohibit the purchase, sale, offer for sale, transport, temporary relocation, and release to the wild of scientific breeder deer unless the minimum herd health standards can be proven
- Temporarily suspend the importation of deer into the state of Texas
- Make it an offense for any person to sell deer to anyone else unless at least one party to the transaction possesses a valid purchase permit for the transaction
ITEM 3: Statewide Hunting and Fishing Proclamation
Presenters: Gary Graham, Phil Durocher, Hal Osburn
This item seeks adoption of the 2002-2003 Statewide Hunting and Fishing Proclamation. The potential changes include:
- Nonsubstantive, housekeeping-type alterations
- Simplification of proof-of-sex requirements for deer
- Implementation of a license log for deer
- Elimination in 10 East Texas counties of a regulation prohibiting the use of dogs to trail wounded deer
- Modification of the late youth-only season to allow harvest of buck deer and to require antlerless deer to be harvested by permit in all counties where there is a permit requirement during any part of the general season
- Modification of Managed Lands Deer (MLD) buck permit provisions to allow the harvest of spike-antlered bucks prior to the opening of the general season on Level II properties
- Modification of Managed Lands Deer (MLD) buck permit provisions to allow the harvest of bucks by means of archery during the archery season on Level II properties
- Increased number of ‘doe days’ in 17 north-central counties
- A special regulation to define buck deer Austin, Colorado, Lavaca, Fayette, Lee, and Washington counties
- Opening of a Fall Season for Rio Grande turkey in Hill County
- Opening of a standard Spring Season for Eastern turkey in Brazoria, Fort Bend, Matagorda, and Wharton counties
- Elimination of minimum
length limits for sunfish
on Purtis Creek State
Park Lake
- Implementation of a slot limit, bag limit, and size restrictions for largemouth bass on Gibbons Creek Reservoir
- Implementation of an increased minimum length limit for largemouth bass on Brushy Creek Lake
- Elimination of slot limit and implementation of a minimum length limit for red drum on Coleto Creek Reservoir
- Adjustments to minimum length and bag limits for largemouth bass on Lake Alan Henry
- Implementation of increased minimum length limit for largemouth bass on Lakes Proctor and Possum Kingdom
- Implementation of a requirement for all fish landed from Texas public waters to conform with Texas size and bag limits. This will primarily address concerns about over harvest of fish in Sabine Lake caught under Louisiana regulations
ITEM 4: Statewide Oyster Fishery Proclamation/Rule Review
Presenter: Robin Riechers
This item proposes submitting 31 TAC Chapter 58, Subchapter A (Statewide Oyster Fishery) to the full Commission for readoption. This chapter was submitted for Rule Review to the Texas Register in compliance with House Bill 1, 75th Legislature, Regular Session, 1997, Article IX, Section 167. This is the final portion of Chapter 58 undergoing rule review and readoption.
ITEM 5: Public Lands Proclamation 2002-2003
Presenter: Herb Kothmann
This item proposes amendments to the Public Lands Proclamation, seeks approval for proposed public hunting activities on state parks, and establishes an open season on public lands for the purposes of providing public hunting opportunity. The proposed changes to the Public Lands Proclamation include:
- Elimination of references to fees, which are being consolidated by an amendment to the finance rules in a separate chapter of the Texas Administrative Code
- Standardization of permit privileges by eliminating exceptions allowing users of Limited Public Use permits to hunt on certain units of U.S. Forest Service lands
ITEM 6: 2002-2003 Migratory Game Bird Proclamation
Presenter: Vernon Bevill
This item apprises the committee of anticipated developments in the federal regulatory process and amends the Migratory Gamebird Proclamation to adjust season dates to account for calendar shift.
ITEM 7: Commission Policy Manual Resolution/Designation of Official Nonprofit
Presenter: Gene McCarty
This item will:
- Update the language in the policy manual to reflect changes mandated by the Sunset Bill (SB 305) relating to the composition of the Commission, terms of service, and Commission meeting agenda
- Create a new Commission policy naming the Parks and Wildlife Foundation as the Official Nonprofit Partner. The policy requires the Foundation to comply with the adopted best practices for the official nonprofit partner
ITEM 8: Commercial Nongame Permits
Presenter: John Herron
This item amends the regulations governing the collection and sale of nongame wildlife and regulations concerning endangered species. The proposed changes include:
- Elimination of reporting requirements for persons not engaged in commercial activity
- Reduction of the number of affected species
- Provisions to prevent commercial activity taking place under the guise of hobbiest collection
- Simplification and clarification of permit privileges
- Prohibition of certain means and methods of take
- Creation of a letter of authorization to allow temporary possession of threatened and endangered species for relocation
FINANCE COMMITTEE
April 3, 2002
ITEM 1: Chairman’s Charges
ITEM 2: Bomer Management Review
Presenter: Mr. Elton Bomer
Mr. Bomer will present results of the recent Management review.
ITEM 3: Financial Review and Update
Presenter: Suzy Whittenton
Staff will present a financial review for the year to date FY2002, including an update on Account 9, Game, Fish and Water Safety and Account 64, State Parks. This presentation will focus on:
- Sale of hunting and fishing licenses, boat registration and titling fees, and state park fees
- Preliminary budget information for FY 2003
- Updated information regarding the progress that has been achieved in addressing the audit findings from the State Auditor’s Office
ITEM 4: Foreign Travel
Presenter: Suzy Whittenton
Article IX of the General Appropriations Act requires that the Commission approve any trip to a foreign country that utilizes appropriated State funds. However, several times per year Texas Parks and Wildlife employees travel to foreign counties with expenses paid by other entities such as the Federal Government or professional associations. Staff seeks Commission guidance on proper procedure on these travel requests.
ITEM 5: Local Parks Grants Update
Presenter: Tim Hogsett
Staff will present
an update regarding
the Texas Recreation
and Parks Account grant
program. This presentation
will include an administrative
overview of the programs,
including funding history,
program goals and objectives,
and the priority ranking
systems used to prioritize
funding allocations.
ITEM 6: Urban Park and Recreation Recovery Grants (UPARR)
Presenter: Tim Hogsett
- Up to $433,500 in matching funds requested for Urban Park and Recreation Recovery projects should any Texas projects be approved by the National Park Service later this year
ITEM 7: Lake Rita Blanca State Park Transfer
Presenter: Walt Dabney
- Transfer of Lake Rita Blanca State Park for operations to the City of Dalhart as a city park site.
ITEM 8: License System Update
Presenter: Suzy Whittenton, Terry Lewis
Staff will update the Commission on the implementation of the new license system. The update will include information regarding the closeout of the Transactive system and the statistics related to license agents selling via the World Com system. Staff will cover the call center and internet sales capabilities of the system.
ITEM 9: License Fees for Commercial Fisheries
Presenter: Suzy Whittenton
This item reviews proposed changes to commercial fishing and business license fees and related transfers and duplicate fees. The changes have been proposed in order to cmply with legislative requirements directing the department to better recover coasts associated with administering and managing inland and coastal fisheries programs. Proposed rules include an increase of 20% for most commercial and business licenses fees, and a $5 increase to most transfer and duplicate (from $5 to $10).
CONSERVATION COMMITTEE
April 3, 2002
ITEM 1: Chairman’s Charges
ITEM 2: Nomination for Oil and Gas Lease – Tyler SP – Smith County
Presenter: Ronnie Ray
The Board for Lease for Parks and Wildlife lands has received a nomination at Tyler State Park for an oil and gas lease sale offering.
- No entry will be allowed on the surface of these tracts.
- Estimated revenue will be a minimum of $7,596.00, with additional revenue from delay rentals and/or royalties anticipated should the nomination be accepted by bid
ITEM 3: Petroleum Pipeline Easement – Cameron County
Presenter: Dennis Gissell
Commission approval to grant an easement to Penn Octane Corporation for two pipelines installed on Resaca de la Palma State Park. If approved by the Commission, the proposed easement would be forwarded to the General Land Office for final drafting and to the Board for Lease for final approval. The following items describe the situation:
- In April 2000, Steve Benn, Area Manager for Las Palomas WMA, discovered that petroleum pipelines had been installed on Resaca de la Palma State Park and Brasil Units of the Las Palomas WMA, without permission or approval
- Since discovery of the pipeline, we have worked with Penn Octane to do the following: obtain a survey of boundaries and pipeline locations; assess impacts to endangered species; archaeological survey; and assess damages and fees
- Damages were assessed at $100,000, based on impacts and potential impacts to habitat, resulting from either leaving the pipeline in place or removing it to be installed elsewhere. Since moving the pipeline off of TPWD lands would likely result in additional habitat damage, it was decided to leave the pipelines in place and assess a fee that approaches the cost of pipeline removal and relocation. A standard, ten-year easement fee of $10 per rod for each of the two pipelines was assessed for total easement fees of $18,096.96
ITEM 4: Easement Assignments – Travis County
Presenter: Jack Bauer
A right-of-way easement and an easement assignment along Smith School Road between Burleson Road and Level 3 Communication at the TPW Headquarters complex is recommended by two fiber optic communication companies.
- Fiber optic conduit was installed under construction and right of occupancy permits during 2000 and 2001
- MCI WorldCom, Inc. is requesting an assignment of an existing easement from Level 3 Communications along the east side of Smith School Road
- XO Texas, Inc. is requesting conversion of the occupancy permit along the west side of Smith School Road to a R-O-W easement
- These actions will require Board for Lease of Park and Wildlife Lands action
ITEM 5: International Paper Land Sale – Middle Neches River
Presenter: Gary Graham
International Paper, Inc. (IP) has offered 33,000 acres representing bottomland hardwood and historical longleaf pine habitats for bid sale. Texas Parks & Wildlife (TPW), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), National Park Service (NPS), National Forest Service NFS), and the conservation community are interested in conserving these lands.
- The sale represents a continuation of disposition of forestland holding by IP across the United States to meet financial obligations following the purchase of Champion Paper Co.
- This specific tract was under management agreement with TPW when owned by Champion and consists of very high habitat, recreation, and water resource values
- The tract connects the Davy Crockett and Angelina National Forests as a Neches River corridor between Highways #59 and #69 south of Lufkin in Angelina and Tyler Counties
- Discussions are underway between IP, TPW, USFWS, NPS, NFS, and the conservation community to consider the property for acquisition for perpetual conservation
ITEM 6: Land Donation – Orange County
Presenter: Jack Bauer
A land donation from the Estate of Nelda C. Stark of approximately 18.28 acres is recommended as a habitat addition to the Old River Unit of the lower Neches WMA.
- The tract was intended to be donated to the Department in 1993 when 3,088 acres were donated to TPW by the same donor
- The tract serves an important buffer between subdivision development and a WMA hunting area
- No additional staff is anticipated with this addition
ITEM 7: Land Acquisition – Fort Bend County
Presenter: Jack Bauer
Land acquisition of approximately 80 acres is recommended at Brazos Bend State Park.
- The tract will protect the park entrance to encroaching rural subdividion development
- The purchase price is at appraised value of $2,500 per acre
- Funding is recommended with Lavaca Pipeline mitigation funds, Park Development bonds, and a Land and Water Conservation grant
- The tract will be restored to native prairie and prairie wetlands
- No additional staff is anticipated with these additions
ITEM 8: Land Acquisition – Harris County
Presenter: Jack Bauer
Land acquisition of approximately 101.9 acres as a habitat addition to Sheldon Lake State Park is recommended as part of a damage settlement following a gas pipeline failure in 1994 in Harris County involving several oil and gas producers (Cause No. H-013171; U.S. and the State of Texas v. Equilon Pipeline Company, LLC, f/d/b/a Texaco Pipeline, Inc. and Colonial Pipeline Co.).
- A management stipend of $30,000 will be provided to TPW
- The properties represent high quality bottomland hardwood habitat
- No additional staff is anticipated with these additions
ITEM 9: Land Acquisition – Nueces County
Presenter: Jeff Francell
The acquisition of a 160-acre inholding on Mustang Island as an addition to Mustang Island State Park.
- The property is bounded on all sides by Mustang Island State Park and Corpus Christi Bay and is currently for sale
- Acquiring the property will conserve important wildlife habitat and remove trespass and off road vehicle encroachment into Mustang Island State Park
- The purchase will be funded entirely be a grant from the General land Office and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Acquiring the property will add no appreciable staff time or other management expenses to the Department.
ITEM 10: Land Acquisition – Bexar County
Presenter: Jeff Francell
The acquisition of an 1160-acre addition as an addition to Government Canyon State Natural Area.
- The property is adjacent to the south end of Government Canyon State Natural Area and 833 acres are within the recharge zone of the Edwards Aquifer
- The property has significant wildlife habitat, several prominent hilltops and will allow for additional backcountry trails and visitor amenities off of the aquifer recharge zone
- Texas Parks and Wildlife will purchase the property from the Trust for Public land and sell a conservation easement to the City of San Antonio for half the purchase price
- The remainder of the purchase will be reimbursed with a Land and Water Conservation Fund grant from the National Park Service
Acquiring the property will add no appreciable staff time or other management expenses to the Department.
ITEM 11: Land Acquisition – Brazoria County
Presenter: Jeff Francell
The purchase of a tract of land adjacent to the Levi Jordan Plantation State Historical Site.
- The land has total of 3300 feet of frontage on two county roads and shares a 2700 foot fence with the Historical Site. The tract will serve as a buffer for the development and use of the Levi Jordan State Historical Site
- The Department currently has a contract to purchase the property for $110,000 which is slightly less than appraised vale
- The purchase is funded from a grant from the Houston Endowment to the Parks and Wildlife Foundation of Texas for land acquisition at the Levi Jordan Plantation site.
No additional staff
time is anticipated with
this addition.
OUTREACH AND EDUCATION COMMITTEE
April 3, 2002
ITEM 1: Chairman’s Charges
ITEM 2: Outreach Update – Natural Leaders Team
Presenter: Leah Huth
The Sunset Report and subsequent legislation made key recommendations to the agency regarding its education and outreach efforts. A Natural Leaders team was given the charge to address the recommendations on behalf of the entire agency and the various divisions. This briefing gives you an update of the team’s efforts before the members give their final report in May.
PUBLIC HEARING
SYNOPSIS REPORTS
PUBLIC HEARING
April 4,
2002
ACCEPTANCE OF GIFTS
RETIREMENT CERTIFICATES AND SERVICE AWARDS
APPROVAL OF AGENDA - Chairman Bass
ITEM 1: ACTION - Consent Agenda Items
ITEM 2: ACTION – Urban Park and Recreation Recovery Grants (UPARR)
Presenter: Tim Hogsett
-
ACTION: Commission consideration for adoption. - Up to $433,500 in matching funds requested for Urban Park and Recreation Recovery projects should any Texas projects be approved by the National Park Service later this year
ITEM 3: ACTION – Lake Rita Blanca State Park Transfer
Presenter: Tim Hogsett
| ACTION: Commission consideration for adoption. |
- Transfer of Lake Rita Blanca State Park for operations to the City of Dalhart as a city park site.
ITEM 4: ACTION – Cervid Disease Issues
Presenter: Dr. Jerry Cooke
| ACTION: Commission consideration for adoption. |
This item amends the Scientific Breeder Proclamation to:
- Impose minimum herd health standards for deer held within scientific breeder facilities
- Prohibit the purchase, sale, offer for sale, transport, temporary relocation, and release to the wild of scientific breeder deer unless the minimum herd health standards can be proven
- Temporarily suspend the importation of deer into the state of Texas
- Make it an offense for any person to sell deer to anyone else unless at least one party to the transaction possesses a valid purchase permit for the transaction
ITEM 5: BRIEFING – Crab Trap Cleanup
Presenter: Hal Osburn
| ACTION: Commission review and discussion. |
The purpose of this briefing item is to provide the Commission with an update on the status of Texas’ first-ever crab trap cleanup effort along the coast. At it’s November 2001 meeting, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission adopted a closed season for the use of crab traps.
ITEM 6: ACTION – Statewide Hunting and Fishing Proclamation
Presenters: Phil Durocher, Hal Osburn, Gary Graham
| ACTION: Commission consideration for adoption. |
This item seeks adoption of the 2002-2003 Statewide Hunting and Fishing Proclamation. The potential changes include:
- Nonsubstantive, housekeeping-type alterations
- Simplification of proof-of-sex requirements for deer
- Implementation of a license log for deer
- Elimination in 10 East Texas counties of a regulation prohibiting the use of dogs to trail wounded deer
- Modification of the late youth-only season to allow harvest of buck deer and to require antlerless deer to be harvested by permit in all counties where there is a permit requirement during any part of the general season
- Modification of Managed Lands Deer (MLD) buck permit provisions to allow the harvest of spike-antlered bucks prior to the opening of the general season on Level II properties
- Modification of Managed Lands Deer (MLD) buck permit provisions to allow the harvest of bucks by means of archery during the archery season on Level II properties
- Increased number of ‘doe days’ in 17 north-central counties
- A special regulation to define buck deer Austin, Colorado, Lavaca, Fayette, Lee, and Washington counties
- Opening of a Fall Season for Rio Grande turkey in Hill County
- Opening of a standard Spring Season for Eastern turkey in Brazoria, Fort Bend, Matagorda, and Wharton counties
- Elimination of minimum length limits for sunfish on Purtis Creek State Park Lake
- Implementation of a slot limit, bag limit, and size restrictions for largemouth bass on Gibbons Creek Reservoir
- Implementation of an increased minimum length limit for largemouth bass on Brushy Creek Lake
- Elimination of slot limit and implementation of a minimum length limit for red drum on Coleto Creek Reservoir
- Adjustments to minimum length and bag limits for largemouth bass on Lake Alan Henry
- Implementation of increased minimum length limit for largemouth bass on Lakes Proctor and Possum Kingdom
- Implementation of a requirement for all fish landed from Texas public waters to conform with Texas size and bag limits. This will primarily address concerns about over harvest of fish in Sabine Lake caught under Louisiana regulations
ITEM 7: ACTION – Statewide Oyster Fishery Proclamation/Rule Review
Presenter: Robin Riechers
| ACTION: Commission consideration for adoption. |
This item proposes submitting 31 TAC Chapter 58, Subchapter A (Statewide Oyster Fishery) to the full Commission for readoption. This chapter was submitted for Rule Review to the Texas Register in compliance with House Bill 1, 75th Legislature, Regular Session, 1997, Article IX, Section 167. This is the final portion of Chapter 58 undergoing rule review and readoption
ITEM 8: ACTION – License Fees for Commercial Fisheries
Presenter: Suzy Whittenton
| ACTION: Commission consideration for adoption. |
This item reviews
proposed changes
to commercial fishing
and business license
fees and related
transfers and duplicate
fees. The changes
have been proposed
in order to cmply
with legislative requirements
directing the department
to better recover
coasts associated
with administering
and managing inland
and coastal fisheries
programs. Proposed
rules include an
increase of 20% for
most commercial and
business licenses
fees, and a $5 increase
to most transfer
and duplicate (from
$5 to $10).
ITEM 9: ACTION – Public Lands Proclamation 2002-2003
Presenter: Herb Kothmann
| ACTION: Commission consideration for adoption. |
This item proposes amendments to the Public Lands Proclamation, seeks approval for proposed public hunting activities on state parks, and establishes an open season on public lands for the purposes of providing public hunting opportunity. The proposed changes to the Public Lands Proclamation include:
- Elimination of references to fees, which are being consolidated by an amendment to the finance rules in a separate chapter of the Texas Administrative Code
- Standardization of permit privileges by eliminating exceptions allowing users of Limited Public Use permits to hunt on certain units of U.S. Forest Service lands.
ITEM 10: ACTION – Commission Policy Manual Resolution/Designation of Official Nonprofit
Presenter: Gene McCarty
| ACTION: Commission consideration for adoption. |
This item will:
- Update the language in the policy manual to reflect changes mandated by the Sunset Bill (SB 305) relating to the composition of the Commission, terms of service, and Commission meeting agenda
- Create a new Commission policy naming the Parks and Wildlife Foundation as the Official Nonprofit Partner. The policy requires the Foundation to comply with the adopted best practices for the official nonprofit partner.
ITEM 11: BRIEFING - Game Warden Academy Status Report
Presenter: Royce Wells
| ACTION: Commission review and discussion. |
Chief of Training will present an overview of the Game Warden Academy and cadet selection process for the 48th Cadet Class. This presentation will focus on:
- Game Warden Academy history
- 48th Cadet Class selection
- Game Warden Cadet training
ITEM 12: Nomination for Oil and Gas Lease – Tyler SP – Smith County
Presenter: Ronnie Ray
| ACTION: Commission consideration for adoption. |
The Board for Lease for Parks and Wildlife lands has received a nomination at Tyler State Park for an oil and gas lease sale offering.
- No entry will be allowed on the surface of these tracts.
- Estimated revenue will be a minimum of $7,596.00, with additional revenue from delay rentals and/or royalties anticipated should the nomination be accepted by bid.
ITEM 13: ACTION – Petroleum Pipeline Easement – Cameron County
Presenter: Dennis Gissell
| ACTION: Commission consideration for adoption. |
Commission approval to grant an easement to Penn Octane Corporation for two pipelines installed on Resaca de la Palma State Park. If approved by the Commission, the proposed easement would be forwarded to the General Land Office for final drafting and to the Board for Lease for final approval. The following items describe the situation:
- In April 2000, Steve Benn, Area Manager for Las Palomas WMA, discovered that petroleum pipelines had been installed on Resaca de la Palma State Park and Brasil Units of the Las Palomas WMA, without permission or approval
- Since discovery of the pipeline, we have worked with Penn Octane to do the following: obtain a survey of boundaries and pipeline locations; assess impacts to endangered species; archaeological survey; and assess damages and fees
- Damages were assessed at $100,000, based on impacts and potential impacts to habitat, resulting from either leaving the pipeline in place or removing it to be installed elsewhere. Since moving the pipeline off of TPWD lands would likely result in additional habitat damage, it was decided to leave the pipelines in place and assess a fee that approaches the cost of pipeline removal and relocation. A standard, ten-year easement fee of $10 per rod for each of the two pipelines was assessed for total easement fees of $18,096.96.
ITEM 14: Easement Assignments – Travis County
Presenter: Jack Bauer
| ACTION: Commission consideration for adoption. |
A right-of-way easement and an easement assignment along Smith School Road between Burleson Road and Level 3 Communication at the TPW Headquarters complex is recommended by two fiber optic communication companies.
- Fiber optic conduit was installed under construction and right of occupancy permits during 2000 and 2001
- MCI WorldCom, Inc. is requesting an assignment of an existing easement from Level 3 Communications along the east side of Smith School Road
- XO Texas, Inc. is requesting conversion of the occupancy permit along the west side of Smith School Road to a R-O-W easement
- These actions will require Board for Lease of Park and Wildlife Lands action.
ITEM 15: Land Donation – Orange County
Presenter: Jack Bauer
| ACTION: Commission consideration for adoption. |
A land donation from the Estate of Nelda C. Stark of approximately 18.28 acres is recommended as a habitat addition to the Old River Unit of the lower Neches WMA.
- The tract was intended to be donated to the Department in 1993 when 3,088 acres were donated to TPW by the same donor
- The tract serves an important buffer between subdivision development and a WMA hunting area
- No additional staff is anticipated with this addition
ITEM 16: Land Acquisition – Fort Bend County
Presenter: Jack Bauer
| ACTION: Commission consideration for adoption. |
Land acquisition of approximately 80 acres is recommended at Brazos Bend State Park.
- The tract will protect the park entrance to encroaching rural subdividion development
- The purchase price is at appraised value of $2,500 per acre
- Funding is recommended with Lavaca Pipeline mitigation funds, Park Development bonds, and a Land and Water Conservation grant
- The tract will be restored to native prairie and prairie wetlands
- No additional staff is anticipated with these additions
ITEM 17: Land Acquisition – Harris County
Presenter: Jack Bauer
| ACTION: Commission consideration for adoption. |
Land acquisition of approximately 101.9 acres as a habitat addition to Sheldon Lake State Park is recommended as part of a damage settlement following a gas pipeline failure in 1994 in Harris County involving several oil and gas producers (Cause No. H-013171; U.S. and the State of Texas v. Equilon Pipeline Company, LLC, f/d/b/a Texaco Pipeline, Inc. and Colonial Pipeline Co.).
- A management stipend of $30,000 will be provided to TPW
- The properties represent high quality bottomland hardwood habitat
- No additional staff is anticipated with these additions.
ITEM 18: Land Acquisition – Nueces County
Presenter: Jeff Francell
| ACTION: Commission consideration for adoption. |
The acquisition of a 160-acre inholding on Mustang Island as an addition to Mustang Island State Park.
- The property is bounded on all sides by Mustang Island State Park and Corpus Christi Bay and is currently for sale
- Acquiring the property will conserve important wildlife habitat and remove trespass and off road vehicle encroachment into Mustang Island State Park
- The purchase will be funded entirely be a grant from the General land Office and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
- Acquiring the property will add no appreciable staff time or other management expenses to the Department.
ITEM 19: Land Acquisition – Bexar County
Presenter: Jeff Francell
| ACTION: Commission consideration for adoption. |
The acquisition of a 1160-acre addition as an addition to Government Canyon State Natural Area.
- The property is adjacent to the south end of Government Canyon State Natural Area and 833 acres are within the recharge zone of the Edwards Aquifer
- The property has significant wildlife habitat, several prominent hilltops and will allow for additional backcountry trails and visitor amenities off of the aquifer recharge zone
- Texas Parks and Wildlife will purchase the property from the Trust for Public land and sell a conservation easement to the City of San Antonio for half the purchase price
- The remainder of the purchase will be reimbursed with a Land and Water Conservation Fund grant from the National Park Service
- Acquiring the property will add no appreciable staff time or other management expenses to the Department.
ITEM 20: Land Acquisition – Brazoria County
Presenter: Jeff Francell
| ACTION: Commission consideration for adoption. |
The purchase of a tract of land adjacent to the Levi Jordan Plantation State Historical Site.
- The land has total of 3300 feet of frontage on two county roads and shares a 2700 foot fence with the Historical Site. The tract will serve as a buffer for the development and use of the Levi Jordan State Historical Site
- The Department currently has a contract to purchase the property for $110,000 which is slightly less than appraised vale
- The purchase is funded from a grant from the Houston Endowment to the Parks and Wildlife Foundation of Texas for land acquisition at the Levi Jordan Plantation site.
- No additional staff time is anticipated with this addition.
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