Commission Agenda Item No. 6
Presenter:
Ted Hollingsworth
Action Item
Exchange of Real Estate – Jefferson County
Approximately 120 Acres at the J.D. Murphree Wildlife Management Area
January 24, 2019
I. Executive Summary: Round Lake is a portion of the J.D. Murphree Wildlife Management Area (WMA) in Jefferson County near Port Arthur which is connected by canal to the rest of the WMA. Port Arthur LNG, LLC (PALNG), a subsidiary or affiliate of Sempra LNG, owns property that nearly surrounds Round Lake and intends to build and operate a new liquefied natural gas (LNG) export facility on this property. To eliminate the Round Lake inholding, PALNG has approached Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) about exchanging the Round Lake property for other property in the area.
II. Discussion: The 24,498-acre J.D. Murphree WMA preserves a mosaic of tidal, intermediate, and freshwater wetlands including bayous, ponds, lakes, emergent marshes, salt meadows, and coastal prairie. The WMA is managed for its diversity of native wetland habitats and associated species such as alligators and waterfowl.
Round Lake is a brackish, shallow (approximately 4 feet deep at its deepest), roughly circular impoundment of approximately 120 acres on the eastern edge of the WMA. The lake supports an assemblage of plants and animals typical for this habitat: banana water lily (Nymphaea Mexicana); coontail (Ceratophyllum demersum); widgeon grass (Ruppia maritima); canvasback (Aythya valisineria), blue-winged teal (Anas discors); other waterfowl and wading birds; and a robust population of American alligators (Alligator mississippiensis). TPWD has water-only access to Round Lake and public use has been limited to youth alligator hunts in recent years.
PALNG proposes to exchange an approximately 1280-acre tract of healthy productive wetlands with 2 miles of boundary in common with the WMA for the Round Lake property. This exchange would eliminate a TPWD inholding that is almost completely surrounded by PALNG property earmarked for industrial development. Staff recommends that the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission consider exchanging Round Lake for the proposed 1280-acre tract that will provide superior habitat and public use values.
III. Recommendation: The staff recommends the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission adopt the following motion:
“The Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission adopts the Resolution attached as Exhibit A.”
Commission Agenda Item No. 6
Exhibit A
A Resolution by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission Regarding the
Exchange of Approximately 120 Acres for Approximately 1280 Acres at the
J.D. Murphree Wildlife Management Area in Jefferson County
Resolution
Whereas, the 24,498-acre J.D. Murphree Wildlife Management Area (JDMWMA) in Jefferson County was acquired to protect a landscape-scale mosaic of coastal bayous, ponds, marshes, natural and managed wetlands and grasslands for their high biological and recreational value; and,
Whereas, the JDMWMA includes an approximately 120-acre tract known as Round Lake that is surrounded by private property owned by Port Arthur LNG, LLC (PALNG) and that is accessible only by shallow-draft boat or airboat via a canal and access easement; and,
Whereas, PALNG is preparing to develop the land adjacent to Round Lake as a liquefied natural gas export terminal; and,
Whereas, recreational use of Round Lake is currently limited to youth alligator hunts; and,
Whereas, PALNG proposes to exchange the Round Lake tract for an approximately 1280-acre tract of high-quality marsh with approximately two (2) miles of boundary in common with the JDMWMA (Exchange Tract); and,
Whereas, the Exchange Tract is expected to support conservation values comparable to Round Lake on a much larger scale, with superior access for a wider variety of recreational uses; and,
Whereas, the proposed exchange would eliminate access and management barriers to a portion of the JDMWMA that would be exacerbated by the construction of industrial facilities nearby; and,
Whereas, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission (the Commission) finds that as required by Texas Parks and Wildlife Code chapter 26, notices of today’s hearing of this matter were published at least once a week for three consecutive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation which is published at least six days a week in the community nearest to the JDMWMA in which such newspapers are published (Beaumont Enterprise in Jefferson County), with the last day of publication being not less than one week or more than two weeks before the date of today’s hearing and that such notices specified the date and time at which the Commission would hear testimony regarding the proposed exchange; and,
Whereas, the Commission finds, in accordance with Texas Parks and Wildlife Code chapter 26, that there is no feasible and prudent alternative to the use or taking of such land (the Exchange Tract); and,
Whereas, the Commission finds, in accordance with Section 13.009 of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Code that the proposed exchange is in the best interest of TPWD; and,
Now, therefore, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission authorizes the Executive Director to take all necessary steps to exchange Round Lake for the Exchange Tract for the purposes and subject to the conditions described herein and in the motion approved in this Resolution.
Adopted and approved this 24th day of January, 2019.
Commission Agenda Item No. 6
Exhibit B
Location Map for J.D. Murphree Wildlife Management Area in Jefferson County
Commission Agenda Item No. 6
Exhibit C
Vicinity Map for J.D. MurphreeWildlife Management Area (WMA), Southwest of Port Arthur
Commission Agenda Item No. 6
Exhibit D
Site Map for Round Lake Unit of J.D. Murphree Wildlife Management Area (WMA) Showing Surrounding Ownership
Commission Agenda Item No. 6
Exhibit E
Site Map for Exchange Tracts