Commission Agenda Item No. 7
Presenter: Ted Hollingsworth

Action
Acceptance of Land Donations - Brazoria County
Additions to the Follets Island Coastal Preserve
March 23, 2017

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). The goal of the FICP is to ultimately conserve 1,200 to 1,400 acres of undeveloped beach-to-bay land within the FICP project area. 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.

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 2016, TPL was awarded a grant to acquire 230 acres for addition to the FICP. The addition was authorized by the TPW Commission in August, 2016. Since then, TPL has successfully raised funds and solicited grants for the acquisition of an additional 154-acre tract within the project area, and expects to acquire additional tracts during the course of 2017 and 2018. TPL requests that TPWD authorize the transfer of these tracts to TPWD for addition to the FICP as they are acquired.

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 land for addition to Follets Island Coastal Preserve consistent with the goals of the Follets Island Coastal 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. 7
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. 7
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. 7
Exhibit C

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

Site Map Showing Location of Donation Tracts