Commission Agenda Item No. 11
Presenter: Ted Hollingsworth

Action
Acquisition of Land - Brewster County
Approximately 16,000 Acres at the Black Gap Wildlife Management Area
August 23, 2018

I.      Executive Summary: The Texas General Land Office (GLO) is willing to sell approximately 16,000 acres of strategically located high-quality habitat adjacent to the Black Gap Wildlife Management Area (WMA).

II.     Discussion: The Black Gap WMA, immediately east of Big Bend National Park in Brewster County, consists of 102,974 acres of rugged ridgelines, canyons, and desert flats, including some fifteen miles of frontage on the Rio Grande. Elevations range from roughly 1,565 feet above sea level at the northeast corner, to well over 5,500 feet along ridgetops in the south. The diversity in topography, elevations, soils, and vegetation makes the WMA home to numerous species of indigenous West Texas wildlife, including species of special interest for conservation such as the desert bighorn sheep and the black bear.

The GLO owns most of the remaining unprotected land between the WMA and the national park. Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) staff has long recognized the strategic nature of this land for preserving important habitat, critical wildlife corridors, landscape-scale biological functions, and an iconic West Texas landscape. The GLO is currently divesting itself of lands in this region. Sale of this land to the private sector for subdivision and unrestricted use could significantly compromise the long-term conservation vision for this region.

A contiguous block of approximately 16,000 acres of GLO land is adjacent to the Black Gap WMA. This block is currently leased to the Texas Bighorn Society and includes approximately eleven miles of boundary in common with the WMA and more than seven miles of frontage on the Rio Grande. TPWD staff has been in discussions with GLO about the terms and conditions of a fee acquisition of this tract for addition to the WMA.

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 acquire approximately 16,000 acres in Brewster County for addition to the Black Gap Wildlife Management Area.”

Attachments – 3

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

Commission Agenda Item No. 11
Exhibit A

Location Map for Black Gap Wildlife Management Area in Brewster County

Location Map for Black Gap Wildlife Management Area in Brewster County


Commission Agenda Item No. 11
Exhibit B

Vicinity Map for Black Gap Wildlife Management Area in Brewster County

Vicinity Map for Black Gap Wildlife Management Area in Brewster County


Commission Agenda Item No. 11
Exhibit C

Site Map for Proposed 16,000-Acre Acquisition from General Land Office
Wildlife Management Area Outlined in Orange
National Park Outlined in Yellow
Subject General Land Office Tracts Outlined in Red

Site Map