Presenter: Ted Hollingsworth

Commission Agenda Item No. 16
Action
Approval of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department
Land and Water Resources Conservation and Recreation Plan
November 5, 2009

I. Executive Summary: Staff will present the updated Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Land and Water Resources Conservation and Recreation Plan (Land and Water Plan) to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission and request authorization to adopt and publish the document.

II. Discussion: In December 2008, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) staff organized the state into twelve watershed-based strategic planning regions and organized Texas Conservation and Recreation Forums (TxCRF) in each region. Consisting of inter-divisional TPWD staff and external conservation stakeholders, each TxCRF meets regularly to discuss regional conservation priorities and strategies. The first task of these forums has been to provide input to TPWD for updating the Land and Water Plan. More than 100 organizations and 3,000 individuals have been contacted. As a result of thousands of comments provided through these forums, staff reorganized the Land and Water Plan to make it easier to read and use. For example, the eight goals found in the 2005 edition of the Land and Water Plan have been consolidated into four goals.

A web site was maintained beginning in July, as a vehicle for public comment on the draft plan. A statewide series of public meetings was held, and hundreds of comments were received from the public during the comment period. The public comments were reviewed, and a number were incorporated into the draft. A draft final Plan was presented to the TPW Commission October 6 - 7, and the Plan was further refined based on feedback provided in that meeting. TPWD publication staff have organized and formatted the plan for publication. The 2010 Land and Water Plan can be printed following approval by the TPW Commission. An electronic version of the plan with additional information and links to supporting documents will be prepared by staff in 2010.

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

"The Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission adopts by Resolution in Exhibit A, the 2010 Texas Parks and Wildlife Land and Water Resources Conservation and Recreation Plan as presented, and authorizes the Executive Director to print and distribute copies of the Plan."

Attachments - 1

  1. Exhibit A - Resolution

Commission Agenda Item No. 16
Exhibit A

A Resolution by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission
Adopting the 2010 Land and Water
Resources Conservation and Recreation Plan

Whereas, Chapter 11, Subchapter H of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Code requires that the Commission adopt and maintain a Land and Water Resources Conservation and Recreation Plan (Land and Water Plan); and,

Whereas, in 2002, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission (the Commission) adopted the first Land and Water Plan, and adopted a revised Land and Water Plan in 2005;

Whereas, beginning in December 2008, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) has obtained input on a new Land and Water Plan from inter-divisional TPWD staff and from conservation stakeholders organized into Texas Conservation and Recreation Forums (TxCRF) in twelve watershed-based strategic planning regions across Texas;

Whereas, based on this input and on an inventory of all historical, natural, recreational and wildlife resources in the state, a new Land and Water Plan has been developed; and,

Whereas, the 2010 Land and Water Plan analyzes Texas' conservation and recreation needs, identifies threatened land and water resources and establishes the relative importance of these resources; and,

Whereas, the 2010 Land and Water Plan also includes criteria for determining how to meet Texas' conservation and recreation needs; and,

Whereas, TPWD will continue to base its decisions regarding acquisition of new resources, divestiture of TPWD owned resources, local park grants, cooperation with private landowners and conservation organizations and other major land conservation operations on the Land and Water Plan; and

Now, therefore, be it resolved by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission that the 2010 Land and Water Resources Conservation and Recreation Plan is hereby adopted;

Be it further resolved by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission that the 2010 Land and Water Resources Conservation and Recreation Plan will be effective on January 1, 2010.

Adopted and approved In official recognition of the adoption of this resolution in a lawfully called public meeting of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission, we hereby affix our signatures this 5th day of November 2009.

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Peter M. Holt, Chairman

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T. Dan Friedkin, Vice-Chairman

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Mark E. Bivins, Member

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Ralph H. Duggins, Member

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Antonio Falcon M.D., Member

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Karen J. Hixon, Member

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Dan Allen Hughes, Jr., Member

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Margaret Martin, Member

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S. Reed Morian, Member