November 2-3, 2016, Commission Meeting Agenda

Work Session

Commission Agenda Items

 

Commission Agenda Item No. 10
Presenter: Ted Hollingsworth

Action
Acceptance of Land – Presidio County
Approximately 640 Acres Adjacent to Big Bend Ranch State Park
November 3, 2016

I.       Executive Summary: Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) has been offered a section of land (approximately 640 acres) adjacent to the southeast boundary of Big Bend Ranch State Park.

II.     Discussion: Big Bend Ranch State Park is Texas’ largest state park, encompassing a wide range of far west Texas landscapes and habitats. Since the initial 212,528-acre acquisition in 1988, a number of other tracts have been added, and the current park consists of approximately 310,000 acres, including roughly 22 miles of frontage on the Rio Grande.

There is still a considerable amount of land adjacent to the park that is undeveloped and has values which make it suitable for addition to the park. These values include suitability for low impact recreation such as hiking or remote camping, impressive vistas, interesting geology and other natural resources, protection of viewsheds and watersheds, and as buffers from development that might deter from the visitor experience. If and when added to the park, these lands can be managed by existing staff and park resources.

One of these tracts, a more or less square section of land, consisting of roughly 640 acres with a mile of boundary in common with the park, near the southern end of the park’s east boundary, has been offered to TPWD.

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

"The TPW Commission authorizes the Executive Director to take all necessary steps to accept the transfer of a section of land of approximately 640 acres to the TPWD for addition to the Big Bend Ranch State Park in Presidio County"

Attachments – 4

  1. Exhibit A – Location Map
  2. Exhibit B – Vicinity Map
  3. Exhibit C – Park Map
  4. Exhibit D – Site Map

Commission Agenda Item No. 10
Exhibit A

Location Map for Big Bend Ranch State Park in Presidio County

Location Map for Big Bend Ranch State Park in Presidio County

Commission Agenda Item No. 10
Exhibit B

Vicinity Map for Big Bend Ranch State Park – 50 Miles South of Marfa

Vicinity Map for Big Bend Ranch State Park – 50 Miles South of Marfa

Commission Agenda Item No. 10
Exhibit C

Big Bend Ranch State Park
Area Enlarged in Exhibit D Outlined in Red

Big Bend Ranch State Park - Area Enlarged in Exhibit D Outlined in Red

Commission Agenda Item No. 10
Exhibit D

Site Map Showing Location of Subject 640-acre Tract

Site Map Showing Location of Subject 640-acre Tract