Commission Agenda Item No. 12
Presenter: Jason Estrella

Action
Land Conservation Strategy – West Texas
Acquisition of Strategic State Park Tracts
August 26, 2021

I.      Executive Summary: Several West Texas state parks (SP), including Balmorhea, Big Bend Ranch, and Franklin Mountains, contain inholdings. Acquiring these inholdings remains a priority for the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) to minimize operational and management conflicts and ensure the conservation of TPWD public lands. TPWD proposes to acquire privately-held inholdings from willing sellers.

II.     Discussion: Big Bend Ranch SP is the largest state park at over 300,000 acres.  Multiple inholdings occur throughout the park, and TPWD has acquired several as they have become available. Franklin Mountains SP was acquired in 1981 and opened in 1987.  It is one of the largest urban parks in the nation at over 26,000 acres.  A few scattered inholdings remain in the park and acquiring these from willing sellers will help secure the park’s precious resources and vistas.  In 1934, the State Parks Board acquired nearly 46 acres around San Solomon Springs, which eventually became Balmorhea SP.  Now sitting at nearly 760 acres and known today as an oasis in the Chihuahuan Desert of far West Texas, the springs fill the pool at the park, which is home to several rare and endangered species.

The acquisition of private inholdings in these parks have been identified as particularly high priorities because these inholdings affect public-use planning and public access. As resources allow, the staff would like to begin contacting these landowners to determine if any are willing sellers.

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 strategic state park inholdings in West Texas.”

Commission Agenda Item No. 12
Exhibit A

Location Map for Franklin Mountains, Balmorhea, and Big Bend Ranch State Parks

Commission Agenda Item No. 12
Exhibit B

Vicinity Map for Franklin Mountains, Balmorhea, and Big Bend Ranch State Parks