May 21-22, 2019, Commission Meeting Agenda

Work Session

Commission Agenda Items

March 19-20, 2019, Transcripts

 

Commission Agenda Item No. 10
Presenter: Stan David

Action
Acquisition of Land – Marion County
Approximately 110 Acres at the Caddo Lake Wildlife Management Area
May 22, 2019

I.      Executive Summary: The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) holds a conservation easement on an approximately 220-acre tract of land on the west side of the Caddo Lake Wildlife Management Area (WMA), near the WMA’s Goat Island Unit. The Nature Conservancy (TNC) owns an undivided 50 percent of the surface of the subject tract. To address operational and access needs, TPWD staff recommends acquisition of the remaining undivided 50 percent interest in the subject tract and/or acquisition of deeded access into the WMA.

II.     Discussion: Caddo Lake is a mosaic of sloughs, cypress swamps, and open water currently covering 26,810 acres. In the 1930s, Caddo Lake State Park (SP) was constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps on the south shore of the lake. Acquisition of Caddo Lake WMA on the north shore began in 1992. TNC has been instrumental in acquiring much of the property which makes up the WMA, which today covers 8,134 acres of cypress swamps, bayous, marshes, open water, bottomland forest, and uplands.

TPWD holds a conservation easement on an approximately 220-acre tract of land on the west side of the WMA. TNC owns an undivided 50% of the surface of the subject tract. The other 50% interest (approximately 110 acres) is held by roughly a half-dozen undivided interest owners, all of whom are parties to the conservation easement. This tract is the only tract of land in which TPWD has an interest that connects the Goat Island Unit of the WMA to a public road, County Road (CR) 3419.

The Goat Island Unit of the WMA covers roughly 900 acres, consists of particularly significant habitat, and is a favorite destination for hunters and other WMA users. Currently, TPWD and the public have no vehicular access to the Goat Island Unit. In August 2018, TPWD staff briefed the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission (Commission) in Executive Session about this matter. Ownership of the subject tract would facilitate the construction of an access road from CR 3419 to the Goat Island Unit. Alternatively, or in conjunction with the acquisition of land, the staff recommends attempting to acquire deeded access from CR 3419 into 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 establish access to the Goat Island Unit of the Caddo Lake WMA in Marion County through the acquisition of an easement and/or approximately 110 acres of land.”

Attachments – 4

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

Commission Agenda Item No. 10
Exhibit A

Location Map for Caddo Lake Wildlife Management Area in Marion County

Location Map for Caddo Lake Wildlife Management Area in Marion County

Commission Agenda Item No. 10
Exhibit B

Vicinity Map for Caddo Lake Wildlife Management Area (WMA), 15 Miles Northeast of Marshall

Vicinity Map for Caddo Lake Wildlife Management Area

Commission Agenda Item No. 10
Exhibit C

Caddo Lake Wildlife Management Area (WMA) Outlined in Yellow
Subject Tract Location Indicated by Red Star

Caddo Lake Wildlife Management Area

Commission Agenda Item No. 10
Exhibit D

220-Acre Subject Tract Outlined in White

220-Acre Subject Tract Outlined in White