Commission Meeting Agenda Item No. 6
Presenter: Trey Vick

Action
Exchange of Land – Somervell County
Approximately 0.2 Acres at Dinosaur Valley State Park
January 27, 2022

I.      Executive Summary:  Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) needs an approximately 0.2-acre buffer adjacent to Dinosaur Valley State Park (SP) on private land to meet Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) requirements for the upgrade of an existing TPWD wastewater treatment facility. In exchange, the adjacent landowner requests an equal amount of land from the SP.

II.     Discussion:  Dinosaur Valley SP opened in 1972 and comprises 1,587 acres in Somervell County southwest of the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex, near the city of Glen Rose. The park sits along the banks of the Paluxy River and is well known for the well-preserved dinosaur tracts found in the limestone riverbed of the Paluxy. Dinosaur Valley SP has been designated a National Natural Landmark by the National Park Service.

TPWD staff has been asked to negotiate a 0.2-acre development buffer from an adjacent private landowner to meet new requirements set forth by TCEQ for a wastewater treatment facility owned by TPWD.  Initial conversations have started with the adjacent landowner, and in exchange for this buffer, the private landowner is requesting an equal amount of state land in a fee simple exchange.  Dinosaur Valley SP staff has concluded this exchange would have no negative impact on park resources, operations, or public use.

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.”

Attachments – 5

  1. Exhibit A – Resolution
  2. Exhibit B – Location Map
  3. Exhibit C – Vicinity Map
  4. Exhibit D – Location of Proposed Land Exchange
  5. Exhibit E – Site Map of Land Exchange

Commission Agenda Item No. 6
Exhibit A

A Resolution by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission Regarding the Exchange of Land of Approximately 0.2 Acres in Somervell County 

Resolution

        Whereas, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) owns and operates Dinosaur Valley State Park (SP) for an array of conservation and recreation values along the Paluxy River, providing fishing, hiking, camping, and a variety of day use opportunities for the public; and,

        Whereas, TPWD operates a wastewater treatment facility on Dinosaur Valley SP; and,

        Whereas, TPWD needs an approximately 0.2-acre buffer adjacent to Dinosaur Valley SP to meet Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) requirements for the upgrade of the existing TPWD wastewater treatment facility; and,

        Whereas, TPWD is currently working with an adjacent landowner to acquire the needed buffer; and,

        Whereas, the adjacent landowner is requesting a fee simple exchange of approximately 0.2 acres; and,

        Whereas, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission (Commission) finds that as required by Texas Parks and Wildlife Code (PWC) chapter 26, notices of today’s hearing of this matter were published at least once a week for three consecutive weeks in newspapers of general circulation which are published at least six days a week in the communities nearest to Dinosaur Valley SP in which such newspapers are published in the (Cleburne Times-Review in Johnson 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,

        Whereas, the Commission finds, in accordance with PWC chapter 26, that (1) there is no feasible and prudent alternative to the use or taking of such land (Easement); (2) the program or project that requires the use of an Easement includes all reasonable planning to minimize harm to the land; and,

        Whereas, the Commission finds that the exchange of land is subject to conditions that will minimize harm of Dinosaur Valley SP is in accordance with PWC section 13.009; and,

        Now, therefore, the Commission authorizes the Executive Director to take all necessary steps to negotiate terms and conditions of an exchange of land for the purposes and subject to the conditions described herein and in the motion approved in this Resolution.

In official recognition of the adoption of this resolution in a lawfully called public meeting of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission, we hereby affix our signatures this 27th day of January, 2022.

Arch “Beaver” Aplin, III, Chairman

Dick Scott, Vice-Chairman

James E. Abell, Member

Oliver J. Bell, Member

Paul L. Foster, Member

Anna B. Galo, Member

Jeffery D. Hildebrand, Member

Robert L. “Bobby” Patton, Jr., Member

Travis B. “Blake” Rowling, Member



Commission Agenda Item No. 6
Exhibit B

Location Map for Dinosaur Valley State Park in Somervell County


Commission Agenda Item No. 6
Exhibit C

Vicinity Map for Dinosaur Valley State Park (SP),


Commission Agenda Item No. 6
Exhibit D

Location of Proposed Land Exchange in Yellow
Dinosaur Valley State Park Outlined in Red


Commission Agenda Item No. 6
Exhibit E

Site Map of Land Exchange
Landowner Tract to TPWD in Green
TPWD Tract to Landowner in Yellow
Wastewater Treatment Plant Outlined in White
Dinosaur Valley State Park Outlined in Red