Commission Agenda Item No. 8
Presenter:  Ted Hollingsworth

Action
Acceptance of Land Donation – Orange County
Approximately 111 Acres at Tony Houseman Wildlife Management Area (WMA)
November 3, 2011

I.              Executive Summary:  Approximately 111 acres of quality bottomland habitat have been offered to Texas Parks and Wildlife Department for addition to the Tony Houseman WMA by The Conservation Fund (TCF), to satisfy compensatory wetland mitigation needs for a third party.

II.            Discussion:  Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and Air Products LLC, have negotiated an easement for an 18-inch hydrogen pipeline to cross the Tony Houseman WMA, pursuant to a Commission Resolution signed in May 2011.  As part of the assessment and compensation for impacts of the pipeline route in Texas, Air Products partnered with The Conservation Fund to identify and acquire high-quality bottomland hardwood forest tracts adjacent to the WMA to offset fish and wildlife impacts on the WMA resulting from the pipeline installation.  This donation is in addition to the 218 acres donated by TCF to compensate for impacts to Waters of the U.S. (wetlands).

To offset impacts to fish and wildlife values on the WMA, Air Products has paid TCF for the acquisition of the approximately 111-acre tract adjacent to the WMA.  Consistent with the terms of the Surface Use Agreement and easement between TPWD and Air Products, TCF now offers this tract to TPWD for addition to the WMA.

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

“The Executive Director is authorized accept the donation of approximately 111 acres of land adjacent to the Tony Houseman WMA for addition to the WMA.

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 Tony Houseman WMA in Orange County

Location Map for Tony Houseman WMA in Orange County


Commission Agenda Item No. 8
Exhibit B

Vicinity Map for Tony Houseman WMA East of Orange, Texas

Vicinity Map for Tony Houseman WMA East of Orange, Texas


Commission Agenda Item No. 8
Exhibit C

Site Map for Subject Donation Tracts at Tony Houseman WMA

Site Map for Subject Donation Tracts at Tony Houseman WMA